Understanding Root Canal Procedures

3 Tips For Taking Care Of Your Porcelain Veneers

10 August 2015

Diane Mason

Porcelain veneers are a great way to fix multiple flaws in your teeth all at once. Have a chipped tooth here and a couple of oddly shaped teeth there? Installing veneers over them gives your teeth uniform flawlessness with just once procedure. However, once the veneers are in place, it's your job to keep them looking flawless. The lifespan of a set of veneers can vary wildly depending on the habits and hygiene of the patient. Good veneers don't come cheap – they can cost as much as $1100 per tooth, so it's in your best financial interest to make them last as long as you can. Here are a few tips for keeping your porcelain veneers in tip-top shape for a long time.

Give Up Bad Biting Habits

Do you bite your fingernails or pencils, chew on ice, or grind your teeth in your sleep? If so, it's time to change your habits. Bad chewing and biting habits can cause the edges of your veneers to bend or break – not a good look.

Some bad chewing habits, like fingernail or pencil biting, may only require willpower to overcome. Try painting your nails to discourage chewing on them, or keep a supply of sugar-free gum handy to chew on instead of your pencils. Other habits may require more intensive intervention. Compulsive ice-chewing can be a sign that you're suffering from iron-deficiency anemia, and iron infusions may be needed to curb the compulsion. Nighttime grinding is more or less out of your control, since you're asleep when it's happening, but your dentist can make you a nighttime mouth guard to minimize the damage to your teeth and veneers.

Avoid Stains

The good news is that veneers are actually designed to be more stain resistant than your natural teeth. That means that you don't have to give up coffee or wine to maintain a beautiful smile.

However, while your new veneers are stain resistant, they aren't completely stain proof—if you leave staining material on them for a long enough time, you'll still end up with stained or yellowed teeth. The best thing that you can do is brush shortly after drinking coffee or wine, or after eating foods like beets, blueberries, or curries. As for habits like smoking and tobacco chewing, it's best to give them up entirely. Eventually, these habits will turn your veneers yellow.

Have Them Polished

Don't let your veneer installation be your last trip to the cosmetic dentist's office. Your dentist can help you extend the life of your porcelain veneers by polishing them a few times a year. Ask your dentist for their recommended polishing schedule for your specific veneers.

Don't use professional polishing as an excuse to slack on your home dental hygiene, however. Brushing and flossing after every meal will extend the effects of a professional tooth polishing, giving you greater protection for longer periods of time.

Porcelain veneers can be a lifetime solution to crooked, chipped, or misshapen teeth, as long as you take good care of them. It's well worth taking the time to break bad habits, avoid stains, and schedule professional polishings to keep your veneers in good shape. 

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