What Habits Can Ruin Dental Veneers?

Dental veneers can dramatically change the appearance of your teeth in just a couple of dental appointments. However, porcelain veneers are costly, so understandably, you want to keep them in their original condition for as long as possible. In this article, we cover habits that can ruin dental veneers and discuss the best veneer care practices.

What Habits Can Ruin Dental Veneers?

Below, we list the most harmful habits for dental veneers and discuss alternative practices to help you maintain them.

Neglecting Oral Hygiene

Good oral hygiene is essential for preserving dental veneers for two main reasons:

• If the teeth underneath your veneers develop cavities or more extensive decay, you will likely need to remove your veneers to treat the teeth, then replace them with a new set.
• Food residue, plaque, and tartar that build up on your veneers can make them look discolored over time.

To ensure your oral hygiene routine is sufficient, we recommend brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes and flossing every evening. Adding a water flosser to your evening routine can also help clean along the gumline and in hard-to-reach areas. Lastly, visit your dentist twice a year for professional cleanings and fluoride treatments.

Using Abrasive or Whitening Products

Abrasive toothpaste (for example, toothpaste with soda or charcoal) and hard-bristled toothbrushes can create micro-scratches on the surface of your veneers. Tiny food particles and plaque can get stuck in these scratches, causing veneer discoloration. Similarly, whitening products can damage porcelain since they are designed for natural tooth enamel, which has a different structure. Instead, we recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a simple fluoride toothpaste.

Not Adhering to a Veneer-Friendly Diet

Avoiding certain foods while wearing veneers helps prevent them from breaking, scratching, or discoloring. We recommend excluding the following foods and drinks from your diet:

• Staining foods and beverages, such as red wine, black coffee and tea, berries, beetroot, brightly colored spices (curry, turmeric, etc.), soda, and products with artificial dye. If you consume any staining foods or drinks, brush your teeth or at least rinse your mouth immediately afterward.
• Hard, crunchy foods such as crackers, stale bread, croutons, and popcorn can damage the surface of your veneers, dislodge them, or break them.

Using Your Teeth as Tools

Although porcelain veneers are durable, they aren't invincible and can crack, chip, or dislodge if you use your teeth as tools. Never use your teeth to open bottles, tear packaging, or crack nuts.

Nail Biting and Chewing on Hard Items

Like using your teeth as tools, nail biting or chewing on hard items can wear down, scratch, or break your veneers.

Bruxism

Bruxism is involuntary jaw clenching and teeth grinding that usually occurs during sleep. It puts constant, excessive pressure on veneers and natural teeth, causing them to wear down faster. If you experience bruxism, we recommend getting a custom mouth guard from your dentist. A mouth guard helps reduce jaw movement and protects your teeth and veneers from damage.

Get Dental Veneers at Watt Antelope Family Dentist

Schedule an appointment with an experienced cosmetic dentist in North Highlands, CA, for stunning veneers. At our office, we use high-quality materials and modern techniques to deliver reliable results to each client. We are looking forward to your visit.