While dental veneers are a big investment, with proper maintenance, they can provide you with a life-changing smile rejuvenation that you can enjoy for decades to come. To prevent staining and wear-and-tear, and to enjoy your fabulous results for as long as possible, read on for four tips for veneer maintenance.
How Long Do Veneers Last?
Veneers are thin, durable sheaths that are designed to cover the visible surface of teeth. They’re individually crafted, allowing patients to choose to have one, several, or all of their teeth refined with these cosmetic restorations.
Once the veneers are cemented onto the permanent teeth, they have the ability to last for over 20 years with good at-home and professional dental hygiene, as well as good oral habits.
4 Tips to Maintain Your Dental Veneers
The best way to get the most out of your enhanced smile is to be proactive. You can do so by implementing the following:
Keep a Good At-Home Oral Hygiene Routine
Just like with your natural teeth, it’s important for you to maintain good at-home dental hygiene to keep common oral health problems like cavities and gum disease at bay. You can do this by following the American Dental Association’s oral hygiene guidelines and brushing twice each day with fluoridated toothpaste using a soft-bristled toothbrush for two minutes, flossing at least once a day, and rinsing with antimicrobial mouthwash.
Avoid Excessively Chewy & Crunchy Foods & Alcoholic Beverages
Whether you have a dental crown, bridge, bonding, or veneers, it’s important to be mindful of what you eat so as to not accidentally dislodge or damage your restoration. It’s best to avoid foods and snacks that are excessively sticky, chewy, and crunchy. Additionally, alcoholic beverages can lead to the erosion of the cement that holds your veneers onto your teeth.
Protect Your Teeth from Grinding
If you grind your teeth, this can lead to excessive wear and tear on your new restorations, eventually causing them to fail. To keep this from happening, it’s important to protect your smile by investing in a custom-crafted nightguard from your dentist. These are made from durable materials that will cushion your jaw joints and facial muscles from tension and strain in addition to protecting your restorations.
See Your Dentist Every Six Months
Finally, just like with your natural pearly whites, you’ll still need to schedule routine, bi-annual checkups and cleanings with your dentist. At these visits, your dentist in Falls Church can make sure the teeth supporting your veneers are healthy and that they remain fully functional.
About the Authors
Dr. Nada and Dr. Duckett are both highly skilled, experienced dentists with a passion for helping their patients feel like their best, healthiest selves. That’s why they provide a number of smile-enhancing treatments like dental veneers. With countless hours of continuing education under their belts, they’re able to provide their patients with long-lasting, transformative results. For questions or to schedule a consultation, visit DentaCrafters’ website or call 703-241-5775.