How to Get the Most Out of Your New Veneers

Your new veneers can last up to 20 years, but in order to get the most out of them, you’ll need to take good care of them. Here are some important tips for extending their life and ensuring that you enjoy your beautiful new smile for as long as possible!

Maintain Your Oral Hygiene

Even though they improve your smile and remain looking bright and stain free for many years, maintaining an excellent oral hygiene routine is still imperative with veneers. That’s because while they do make your teeth look great, they don’t protect against cavities. In fact, cavities can sometimes get underneath your veneers, requiring costly repairs.

Thus, to keep your veneers looking their best, don’t skip your oral care routine. Brush twice daily with a soft bristled toothbrush and floss once a day, and you’ll protect both your treated and untreated teeth!

Get a New Toothpaste

Unlike your real teeth, veneers cannot be whitened. Thus, using whitening toothpaste on them is not only pointless, but it can also be dangerous. That’s because abrasive toothpastes can scratch them, causing permanent damage. Thus, opt instead for a gel toothpaste that contains fluoride and keep them in great shape for years to come.

Avoid Harmful Foods

While you can still enjoy a full diet with veneers, your dentist recommends avoiding certain foods that could damage them. These include anything excessively crunchy, such as hard candies or ice cubes. If you choose to eat any food that would stain natural teeth like dark chocolate, coffee or red wine, you can still enjoy it with veneers but be sure to brush well and floss afterwards.

Quit Bad Habits

Bad habits like smoking, nail biting, teeth grinding, and chewing on things like pen caps can all be dangerous to your natural teeth as well as your veneers. Thus, to extend their life as long as possible, work on quitting these bad habits. If you grind your teeth in your sleep, speak to your dentist about having a custom bite guard made to help protect your teeth and relieve excess pressure on your jaw.

Don’t Skip the Dentist

Finally, just because your teeth always look white doesn’t mean that you don’t need to see your dentist regularly. The ADA recommends you receive an exam and cleaning twice a year or every six months. These appointments not only keep your teeth looking white and bright, but they also screen you for dangerous oral health conditions like cavities, infection, gum disease and even oral cancer.

Remember, your veneers were designed to last for up to 20 years, but if you don’t take excellent care of them, they may need to be replaced a lot sooner. Don’t damage your smile with costly mistakes. Try these five steps and make the most of your new veneers!

About Dr. Beaty

Dr. Drew Beaty earned his undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering from Tulane University in New Orleans, and his dental degree from Northwestern University in Chicago. He has extensive education in sedation dentistry and has proudly completed all nine levels of postgraduate education at the prestigious Kois Center for Dental Excellence in Seattle.

To this day, Dr. Beaty takes over 100 hours of continuing education each year, which is four times more than what is required by the Washington State Department of Health!

If you’re interested in learning how durable, versatile veneers can improve your smile, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Beaty or Dr. Walker today by visiting our website or calling us directly at 253-839-6544.