The Cosmetic Dentist, Porcelain Veneers And At-Home Care

Your cosmetic dentist--someone like Davis R Troup DDS PA--just brightened your smile with a set of porcelain veneers. Now what? The veneers might take your teeth from not-so-nice to gleamingly white, but that doesn't mean they'll always look that way. After the initial procedure, at-home care becomes essential if you want to maintain your new stellar smile. Check out these simple steps that will help you to keep your porcelain veneers looking like new for years to come.

Stay Away From Anything Sharp

Porcelain veneers are tough enough for you to eat most foods without a problem. Typically, you can go back to your regular eating routine right away. That said, some foods (and other items) might not work well with the new coverings over your teeth. Avoid sharp or hard foods and items. This means no chewing on your nails, biting pen tips or eating ice. These, and hard foods (such as hard candy) can chip your veneers or damage them.

Continue Caring for Your Teeth

Just because the veneers now rest on top of your teeth doesn't mean you can slack off when it comes to dental care. One of the benefits of porcelain veneers is that they don't stain easily. Even so, a lack of at-home care (brushing and flossing) may lead to decay or cavities (of the underlying teeth, not the veneers themselves). Continue brushing for two minutes at least twice a day. And, don't forget to floss. Healthy gums are key to your overall mouth health.

Avoid Abrasives

Even though you definitely need to brush your teeth, you should avoid pastes or gels that are abrasive. Some toothpastes are more abrasive than others. Abrasive pastes are often meant for deep cleaning or whitening. Given that your porcelain veneers provide a brand new bright covering, you don't have a need for any extra whitening. Using this type of product may strip or damage the surface of your veneers.

Stop Grinding

Grinding your teeth won't exactly help your veneers stay in great shape. Okay, so this isn't something that you want to do or even have control over. But, if you do grind you may damage your veneers. Talk to your cosmetic dentist about this before having the veneers placed. Ask about getting a bite guard to protect your teeth. This is something that you'll have to wear at night when you sleep. Regular use can help to save the porcelain from damage.

Along with at-home care, remember to keep all of your scheduled check-ups with your cosmetic dentist. Seeing the pro helps to ensure that your veneers fit properly and your mouth stays healthy.