If you are sporting your new smile after having veneers in our St. Paul dental office, you probably can’t stop admiring your new smile. Veneers can improve your smile and give your pearly whites celebrity status. They are also an investment and protecting them is likely on your list. Here are four ways to keep your veneers looking like new.
#1 Maintain Impeccable Home Hygiene
Brushing twice daily and flossing each day is not a just our suggestion, but a necessary habit to maintain healthy teeth and gums. While veneers themselves do not decay, the natural teeth acting as their foundation can, and decay puts veneers at risk.
Gum disease can lead to recession, exposing the root of the tooth and having a negative impact on your smile.
Be sure to use nonabrasive fluoride toothpaste to keep your teeth and veneers in the best shape.
#2 Never Use Your Teeth as Tools
This one should go without saying, but we treat broken teeth and veneers because they doubled as package or bottle openers. This goes for the habit of chewing on pens and pencils as well.
#3 Stay on Track with Dental Exams and Cleanings
In tandem with home dental care, your regular dental exam and cleaning are the best insurance policy for your smile – both your restorations and natural teeth. Your six-month visits give your dentist an opportunity to look for any changes, damage, or potential disease, which are all easier to treat in the early stages before they impact your veneers.
#4 Wear a Nightguard
Even if you don’t regularly grind your teeth, awareness of occasional bruxism or the presence of a TMJ disorder might indicate the need for a nightguard, which could prevent damage to your veneers and the breakdown and fracture of your teeth.
If you recently improved your smile with porcelain veneers or you are considering veneers to transform your smile, we invite you to contact Highgrove Dental Care to find out more.