Your smile says a lot about your personality, which is why it’s important you know how to care for your porcelain veneers. Our cosmetic dentist in Kalamazoo, MI, will make sure you understand how to maintain good oral health before and after getting veneers. But it’ll be your responsibility to care for dental veneers like you would natural tooth structure.
The best way to maintain healthy teeth and gums after the veneer procedure is to keep an oral hygiene routine. Brushing your teeth twice a day and other good dental habits help remove plaque so you can avoid cavities and gum disease. Porcelain veneers are more likely to last longer when the rest of the mouth is healthy.
Here’s how to get started.
Brush Teeth Twice Daily for 2 Minutes
Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Fluoride occurs naturally and has long been recognized for its oral health benefits. In fact, many municipalities have fluoridated drinking water to help reduce cavities.
Make sure you brush for two minutes so you have enough time to clean all teeth, including those with dental veneers. If you always brush your teeth with one foot out the door, you could be leaving behind plaque on back teeth that are harder to reach. It’s not uncommon for people to develop cavities in their back teeth when they rush.
Floss Teeth Once Daily
Plaque loves to hide where toothbrush bristles can’t reach, whether it’s on your natural tooth structure or dental veneers. That’s why it’s so important you floss once a day to remove plaque hiding in between teeth and along the gum line.
Flossing helps prevent cavities from forming in between teeth so you can avoid an unpleasant surprise during your next teeth cleaning and exam with us.
Use Fluoride Mouth Rinse Once Daily
If you have cosmetic veneers, we recommend using a fluoride mouth rinse to help strengthen your remaining tooth enamel. Using mouth rinse helps wash away any residual plaque or food particles that could be left behind after brushing and flossing. Our cosmetic dentist can help you choose a brand that works for you.
Limit Sweets
Do your teeth ever feel fuzzy or rough? If so, you may be leaving behind dental plaque on your teeth. Plaque loves to eat sugar and uses it to produce cavity-causing acid. You may especially feel plaque on your teeth after eating sugary foods.
Be sure to check labels in the store since many foods we think are “healthy” aren’t good for your teeth. For example, some flavors of yogurt can have a lot of sugar. Likewise, sports drinks often contain more sugar than the average person would think. Limiting sugary foods and drinks will make it easier for you to avoid oral health issues.
Don’t Chew Ice or Use Your Teeth as Tools
While are durable, they’re not invincible. When you chew ice, you’re more likely to chip your veneers and ruin the appearance of your smile. We also recommend you don’t chew popcorn kernels, hard candies, or other foods that could chip your dental veneers.
You’ll also need to avoid using your teeth as tools. For example, you could accidentally damage your while trying to pry off a bottle cap with your teeth.
See Our Cosmetic Dentist Every 6 Months
We recommend you have a teeth cleaning and oral examination every 6 months to protect your oral health. During a teeth cleaning, one of our dental hygienists will be able to gently scrape away plaque and tartar. Our dentist also uses these appointments to closely monitor the condition of your porcelain veneers.
Your Next Steps
Now that you know how to take better care of your porcelain veneers, it’s time to step up to the plate. If you’re not where you need to be in your oral hygiene routine, it’s time to start new healthy habits so you can keep your smile on track. Our dentist in Kalamazoo, MI, would be more than happy to offer oral hygiene counseling so that you can achieve your healthiest smile yet! Book an appointment with Kalamazoo Smiles to take the next step on your smile journey!
Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Bandos
Dr. Katherine Bandos is an experienced cosmetic dentist in Kalamazoo, MI. She’s also accepting new patients and would be more than happy to welcome you to our practice. To request an appointment, please call Kalamazoo Smiles at (269) 353-3700. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.
This blog post has been updated.
