How to Care For Your Porcelain Veneers

At TÜTH Dental, we use a variety of procedures to give our patients bright, vibrant smiles. One of our more popular procedures is porcelain veneers. This smile solution offers long-lasting results for people who want a radiant, beautifully aligned smile. In this article, we'll explore how to properly care for your porcelain veneers by answering some of the most frequently asked questions.

‍

Porcelain Veneers Can Last Up to 20 Years

If you already have dental veneers, you've invested in your smile and want it to look great for as long as possible. So, to keep your white veneers radiant, practice good oral hygiene and be mindful of issues that could stain, damage, or loosen them. With proper care and maintenance, your veneers can last up to 20 years.

How Do You Maintain Porcelain Veneers?

To get the most out of your beautiful teeth journey, follow the necessary care recommendations below:

Brush and floss twice a day.

According to the ADA, studies indicate that as long as you floss thoroughly, it doesn't matter whether you brush before or after you floss.

Brushing

Apply a non-abrasive and non-whitening toothpaste that carries the ADA's Seal of Acceptance to a soft-bristled toothbrush.

During each brushing session, divide your mouth into four quadrants. Gently brush each quadrant for 30 seconds. Firm-bristled toothbrushes can damage the surface of your veneers, which is why you need to use a soft-bristled toothbrush. You should also avoid brushing with whitening toothpaste because many formulas contain compounds (e.g., hydrogen peroxide) that can damage your cosmetic tooth covering.

Flossing

When you floss, you keep your gingival tissue (aka gum tissue) healthy, which helps protect you from developing gum disease (aka gingivitis). Preventing gingivitis is vital because it can lead to unwanted gaps between your porcelain covering and gum tissue.

Some patients find it difficult to floss around their veneers with traditional floss. When this is the case, Dr. Taline may recommend using a gentle water flosser instead.

Have your biannual dental cleanings and exams.

Once your porcelain veneers are in place, it is crucial to visit TÜTH Dental for professional cleanings and exams every six months.

During your exam, Dr. Taline evaluates your veneers. She makes sure they aren't damaged and are still firmly attached to your natural teeth. If there's an issue, Dr. Taline can repair, recement, or replace them right away.

During your check-up, Dr. Taline may also give you personalized suggestions about caring for your cosmetic tooth coverings.

For example, if you:

• Drink coffee, she might recommend that you drink the entire cup at once, and then gently rinse your mouth with water.
• Tend to drink any dark-colored beverages throughout the day, we recommend sipping water simultaneously.

How Do You Prevent Porcelain Veneer Stains?

Limit your consumption of beverages (e.g., coffee, tea, and wine) and foods (e.g., tomato sauce, berries, and beetroot) that stain your teeth.

Don't use products that contain tobacco. 

Tips for preventing stains:

• When you do consume foods and beverages that could stain your white veneers, gently rinse your mouth out afterward. Rinsing helps reduce the amount of residue that remains on your veneers.
• If you want to drink a beverage that's known to stain the teeth (e.g., wine and dark-colored juices), consider using a straw.
• Tobacco is also known to stain the teeth. Ideally, it's best to stop using these products altogether. However, if that isn't an option, gently rinse your mouth with water after smoking or vaping. Chewing tobacco sits directly in front of the teeth. Therefore, Dr. Taline may recommend a different smile solution for someone who chews tobacco.

How Do You Clean Teeth Under Veneers?

Porcelain veneers offer a way for anyone to have a stunning smile. However, without diligent care, plaque and tartar can accumulate on the shell, along the gumline, and between the teeth. If plaque and tartar aren't removed, the likelihood of developing gum disease increases.

The dental cement we uses to adhere the veneer to your natural tooth protects the part of the tooth it covers. Therefore, as long as this bond remains intact, you shouldn't have to worry about cleaning the front of your natural tooth. Nonetheless, you still need to practice good oral hygiene and continue to have your professional cleanings and check-ups every six months at our clinic in Katy, TX.

6 Tips to Prolong the Life of Your Veneers

Get the most out of your veneers by following the tips below.

1. Avoid eating foods that are hard or chewy.

Porcelain veneers are highly durable. However, foods that are extremely hard or chewy can cause wear. As time passes, this wear and tear could lead to veneer deterioration or cause them to loosen and begin pulling away from your natural teeth.

2. Don't use your teeth as a tool.

Many people use their teeth to open packages and twist off bottle tops. To care for your porcelain veneers, you need to commit to only using your teeth for eating.

3. Don't bite your nails.

If you bite your nails, unless you can kick the habit, veneers might not be the best smile solution for you. Nonetheless, if you do choose to have veneers, and they sustain damage or become loose, Dr. Taline can recement or replace a lifted or damaged veneer.

4. Prevent staining.

Limit your veneers' exposure to dark-colored foods and beverages. When you do consume dark-colored foods and beverages, rinse your mouth with water directly thereafter.

5. Use dental guards (aka mouthguards).

If you actively play sports or tend to grind your teeth during sleep (i.e., bruxism), consider wearing custom-designed dental guards to protect your veneers.

Wearing a mouthguard helps prevent porcelain veneers from eroding. In addition, when you wear a dental guard while participating in sports, you reduce the likelihood that your teeth and veneers will sustain damage.

If you have bruxism, you involuntarily grind your teeth during sleep. Wearing a mouthguard while you sleep can prevent you from accidentally damaging or loosening your veneers.

6. Watch for changes in your veneers.

Schedule an appointment at TÜTH Dental right away if you notice a change in your veneers (e.g., a veneer is lifting). Addressing issues early on increases the likelihood of a quick-and-easy fix.

Since veneers have such a long lifespan, Dr. Taline can offer advice about when to replace veneers.

How Much Do Porcelain Veneers Cost in Katy?

Every patient is unique. So, Dr. Taline creates custom-designed treatment plans. Therefore, the only way she can determine how much a patient's veneers will cost is with an initial consultation.

Reasons To Choose TÜTH Dental For All Your Dental Needs

We provide our patients with a pain-free, spa-like experience. Our goal is to make you feel so comfortable that you wish your dental visit lasted longer.

A Genuine, Down-to-Earth Cosmetic Dentist

Dr. Taline used to fear the dentist herself. For this reason, she's taken great care to design an office with a comfortable, serene atmosphere. In addition, Dr. Taline dedicates herself to providing gentle, pain-free care.

She loves Katy and its surrounding area, which fuels her desire to give back to the community. Dr. Taline gives back by volunteering with underprivileged youths and homeless adults.

If you're looking for an experienced dentist in Katy, who can create a bright, white smile using porcelain veneers, Dr. Taline can help. Once your veneers are in place, you'll feel good about the way you look, which will boost your self-confidence. We want to help you feel confident about your smile and experience the joy of laughing out loud again. To learn more about how we restore your teeth, please contact our office and schedule your complimentary consultation today. You can reach us by phone at (281) 318-6261, or, if you prefer, you can use our online form to schedule an appointment.