You have invested a significant amount of time and money into restoring your smile with the help from porcelain veneers. Once you have corrected your cracked, crooked or chipped teeth, the next step is protecting your investment by taking proper care of your stunning new smile.

While veneers are extremely durable, making them last for years to come is up to you. Here are a few tips on maintaining their beauty and function.

Oral Hygiene and Your Porcelain Veneers

With proper care, porcelain veneers can keep you smiling for up to twenty years. Veneers can collect plaque and tartar buildup the same way your natural teeth do, so it’s vital to continue a consistent dental hygiene routine that includes:

Brushing and flossing

While the veneer itself is not susceptible to decay, your natural teeth that reside underneath them are still vulnerable to cavities. Veneers can also become stained just like your real teeth, so brushing twice a day with a soft bristled toothbrush and flossing daily will keep your whole mouth clean and cavity free.

Choosing the Right Toothpaste

No matter your preference, most toothpastes are safe to use on your veneers, but using a toothpaste with specific whitening ingredients can be very abrasive and damaging to veneers.

Use Caution With Mouthwashes

If using a mouth rinse was part of your oral hygiene routine before veneers, you may need to double check those ingredients. Alcohol and mouthwashes that contain alcohol can be damaging to the bond between your veneers and your tooth. Look for an alcohol-free mouthwash to avoid any damage.

Regular Professional Cleanings

Only a dental hygienist can remove tartar buildup from your teeth which builds up over time. Scheduling by-annual cleaning appointments will keep your teeth free of damaging issues like gingivitis and cavities.

Watch what you eat

Just like regular teeth, chewing on hard non-food items like pens and using your teeth as tools to open things can cause damage to your veneers. If something isn’t good for your natural teeth, chances are, it’s not good for veneers either. Avoid chewing on ice or hard candies that can lead to potential damage and chipping.

The Benefits Of Veneers

If properly cared for, porcelain veneers are always a great option if you are looking for cosmetic enhancements for your teeth. They are the best at mimicking the natural look and feel of teeth, making them almost always unnoticeable. Some of the many benefits of veneers are:

• Durability – Unlike dental bonding that can chip, porcelain veneers are more durable, usually lasting anywhere from 12-25 years and rarely require any maintenance outside of your basic oral hygiene.
• Visually Appealing – If your natural teeth are severely discolored, misaligned, or misshaped, porcelain veneers can easily correct one or all of these issues. They are made from a mold of your teeth and then sized and shaped to fit proportionally to the other teeth in your mouth for a symmetrical and appealing final result.
• Stain Resistant – In general, veneers are more stain resistant than your natural teeth. They’re protected with a glaze that can repel most stains including dark colored liquids like red wines and coffee.

Wear a Night guard

Using a night guard to protect your teeth while you sleep will keep them from becoming damaged if you have a history of clenching or grinding your teeth while you sleep.

Porcelain veneers can be perfectly maintained for many years if cared for appropriately. If you feel like you might be a good candidate for porcelain veneers and want to learn more about how you can improve the state of your smile, contact us at Hinsdale Dentistry today and schedule your consultation!