How To Look After Porcelain Veneers?

Whether you want to disguise discoloured, chipped, unevenly spaced, or crooked teeth porcelain veneers are a great option. They are extremely durable and stain resistant. But just because they’re not real teeth doesn’t mean you don’t have to look after them. After all, you have invested in them. Porcelain veneers can last for 15-20 years when look after properly. Whether you have had porcelain veneers fitted here in Bournemouth or elsewhere, you maximise their lifespan by looking after them.

To look after your dental porcelain veneers follow the care advice given to you by your highly skilled and knowledgeable aesthetic dentist, the tips below and practice proper dental care to ensure they last for the maximum amount of time.  

Top Tips To Help You Look After Your Porcelain Veneers

Here are 9 things you can do to help protect your investment, veneers and your smile. 

Wear A Mouth Guard At Night

When you grind or clench your teeth (bruxism) it can wear down or fracture natural teeth and porcelain veneers. It can also cause veneers to become unbonded (fall off). If bruxism becomes a problem after your smile transformation the dentist will check the alignment of your teeth to ensure this isn’t the cause. They will also recommend you wear a custom-made mouthguard to prevent your veneers from damage while you sleep.

High-strength veneers, crowns or other alternatives will be recommended if your bruxism is an issue ahead of your cosmetic dentistry. 

Take Care With Hards Foods

We often get asked if there are any foods you can’t eat with your permanent porcelain veneers. There isn’t anything you can’t eat but you should take care when eating foods with bones or when consuming incredibly hard foods such as pips or seeds.

(Note that when you have temporary veneers whilst your permanent ones are being made your dentist may tell you to avoid some foods).

Cut Up Hard Foods

Instead of biting hard foods like apples with your incisors (front teeth), chop them up to prevent damage to your veneers. 

Look after Your Veneers When Playing Sport

If you have a blow to the face from a head, fist or ball when playing contact sports or ball sports your veneers and teeth can be badly damaged. You can protect your veneers and teeth when playing sports by wearing a mouth guard. You could also use a faceguard or sports helmet for even more protection if allowed. 

Don’t Use Your Teeth As Tools

Your teeth and veneers are not designed to open bottles, letters, plastic packets or tear sellotape – it can cause your teeth and your veneers to become weak and/or cause permanent damage.

Don’t Use Your Teeth To Hold Items

Using your mouth to hold pens, tape or other things can wear your veneers and teeth down. It can also cause cracks and chips to develop. 

Don’t Chew On Nails, Pen Caps and Other Objects That Are Not Food

These bad habits can cause your teeth to chip, crack or even become weak or brittle. It’s also a choking hazard and can damage your jaw as well as your veneers. 

Get Them Fitted By Trained, Accredited And Regulated Dentists

Looking after your veneers starts with how you have them fitted.  Always make sure that your veneers are applied by a dental professional who has been trained in cosmetic dentistry and the application of porcelain veneers. Poor design and fit can lead to damaging your natural teeth and having to remove them sooner than you wanted to.  

The expert dentists here at Smile Stories are highly skilled and trained in porcelain veneer procedures. Clients visit from around the UK to have them fitted at our award-winning clinic. 

Avoid Tobacco

Tobacco products are known to stain your teeth, and veneers are no exception. Avoid tobacco products to keep your sparkling white veneers from turning yellow. Tobacco also makes gum disease and tooth loss more likely. If your teeth fall out you’ll need to replace your veneers with dental implants. 

Essential Maintenance Helps Look After Your Porcelain Veneers

The most important step in looking after your veneers is maintaining a healthy dental hygiene routine. Looking after your teeth and gums will help you preserve your porcelain veneers and your oral health.

Brush Twice A Day

Brushing your teeth at least twice a day helps keep the teeth, gums and veneers clean and healthy. Removing food debris helps prevent staining. Disrupting plaque helps prevent gum disease and tooth decay. 

Use The Best Toothpaste For Porcelain Veneers

Flouride toothpaste is recommended to help keep your teeth strong – but what about your veneers? 

Most tubes of toothpaste are safe to use on your porcelain veneers but some toothpaste can cause micro-scratches on dental ceramics such as those that contain bicarbonate of soda or bleach. Whitening toothpaste should be avoided. 

We recommend that you use gel toothpaste, non-whitening pastes or fluoride toothpaste. Or how about professional tooth whitening to brighten them up?

Clean The Interdental Spaces

Using floss, interdental brushes or single-tufted toothbrushes help remove plaque from between the teeth and under the gumline. This will help prevent tooth decay and gum disease. It can also help prevent staining between the teeth, and along the edges of the veneers. 

Regular Check-Ups & Hygiene Appointments

To ensure your mouth is healthy and to detect any problems before they become big issues regular dental health checks are necessary. Dentists can spot the early signs of any problem with your veneers, teeth and gums and deal with them before it becomes problematic.  

Professional Hygiene Appointments every 6 months will ensure they appear the same as the day they were fitted.

Keep Porcelain Veneers White

You can use a gentle polishing toothpaste to remove any stains that start to form around the edges of the veneer or revitalise the shine if the glaze is wearing down.  A professional dental cleaning can also help remove stains and keep your veneers looking white.  

You can find out more about keeping porcelain veneers white here. 

How Often Do Porcelain Veneers Need To Be Replaced

Porcelain veneers can last 15-20 years when looked after properly. They will need replacing after around 15 years or sooner if they become cracked, chipped or stained. If during the veneer application enamel was removed you will need to replace them when they become worn out – there is no option for you not to replace the veneers. 

If you’re looking to get porcelain veneers fitted or need help maintaining get in contact with our skilled aesthetic dentists today.