4 Clever Strategies To Extend The Lifespan Of Your Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are composite resin shells fastened to damaged or chipped teeth for revamping their appearance. This cosmetic dentistry procedure is often adopted to create a straighter, brighter smile by fixing existing teeth imperfections. But once you get porcelain veneers, you need to take several steps to extend their lifespan and to ensure minimal damage.

Avoid Chewing On Hard And Sticky Items

Hard items like candy, corn on cob, pistachio shells and crunchy granola bars are best avoided when you have porcelain veneers. Similarly, gooey or sticky foods like chocolate, brownies and cheesy bakes may taste great, but they should ideally be avoided when you get porcelain veneers. Hard and sticky foods can damage your porcelain veneers by sticking and shifting them from their affixed position. To protect your teeth after this cosmetic dentistry procedure, be sure to stay away from them as much as possible.

Avoid Grinding Your Teeth

Some people grind their teeth knowingly, while others do it without realising. Grinding or bruxism involves tooth clenching or shifting either while you sleep or at different points in the day. Regular tooth grinding will displace your porcelain veneers from your teeth and will damage them over time. You can also end up damaging your real teeth, so you may want to your dentist about possible treatments. You may need a mouth guard at night to protect your veneers from the damage of tooth grinding.

Stay Away From Stain-Causing Elements

While porcelain veneers are known for their stain resistance, some elements can break through their resilience. If you're looking to keep your natural teeth and veneers white for longer, be sure to stay away from coffee, cigarettes, sodas, red wines, teas and berries. These not only cause stains, but they may potentially damage your veneers over time. If you absolutely cannot do without them, follow strict oral hygiene habits like brushing and flossing to minimise the possibility of stains remaining on them.

Get Porcelain Veneers Regularly Polished

This cosmetic dentistry procedure will last for longer when you get them regularly polished because this helps to remove food, plaque and other debris from your porcelain veneers. You will need to check with your dentist how often you need to get them polished based on your situation. The dentist will use special tools and equipment to clean your natural teeth and veneers. Regular polishing and good oral hygiene will ensure that your porcelain veneers remain damage-free for a long time.

If you undertake this cosmetic dentistry procedure, follow these clever strategies to extend the lifespan of your porcelain veneers.