1. Avoid Smoking & Habits that May Chip Your Veneers.
Your permanent porcelain veneers are stain-resistant and can last ten years or longer with appropriate care. Some habits that may have led to your need for cosmetic dentistry in the first place should be avoided, such as chewing on ice, pencils, pens, and fingernails. The thin shells are still susceptible to breakage under pressure from these habits and eating a lot of hard foods. Smoking and excessive drinking can also damage the bonding material used to adhere the porcelain shell to your tooth.
2. Be Vigilant with Your Daily Dental Hygiene.
Skipping flossing or brushing your teeth will affect your oral health, and that includes the state of your porcelain veneers. The teeth beneath the shells can still decay, and poor oral hygiene can cause you to lose not only the veneer but the tooth itself. Porcelain veneers can be cared for in the same way as your natural teeth—through daily flossing and brushing and rinsing with water after meals. You don’t need a special toothpaste, though you may need to switch while you have temporary veneers, which are worn for two to three weeks while your porcelain veneers are crafted to the desired shape and size.
3. Limit Consumption of Dark Beverages and Certain Foods.
While your porcelain veneers are resistant to staining and discoloration, your given teeth are still likely to stain. Try to avoid drinking a lot of coffee, red wine, tea, and other dark-colored beverages as well as certain foods such as dark fruits and tomato sauce. Many of our Boulder area patients have teeth whitening treatments in addition to porcelain veneers to give you a bright, stunning smile.
Lifestyle Changes with Temporary Veneers
The temporary veneers are not as durable as your permanent porcelain veneers, so during this process, you’ll want to follow the advice listed above but also avoid these foods:
- Nuts, seeds, chips, and hard bread
- Hard or sticky candy
- Crunchy foods including carrots and celery
- Foods that are difficult to chew such as steak
- Toasted or crusty foods
- Coffee, tea, and other beverages that can cause tooth stains
Schedule Your Consultation to Learn More About Porcelain Veneers
If you’re interested in porcelain veneers, contact our cosmetic dentist in Boulder today at (303) 449-1119. Adler Advanced Dentistry offers cosmetic, restorative, and family dentistry to patients in Boulder, Colorado, and surrounding areas, including Denver and Fort Collins.
