Veneers: Caring For Your New Applications

There are few cosmetic dental procedures that can give you an instantly new smile the way veneers can. Used by both family dentists and those on the cosmetic side of the spectrum, these applications come in a variety of material and can be used for any purpose where the need centers on covering up the original teeth. While they are primarily designed for looks, their capabilities when it comes to protecting the original tooth cannot be understated. Certain materials are more durable than others. Here are some things you should know about caring for the applications. Avoid Harder Foods The more durable veneers can handle some rigorous chewing, but that can only go so far. Your dentist should provide you with some foods to avoid, particularly in the beginning. Even after they've settled in, however, you'll be better off steering clear of foods that are tough on the teeth. This may mean avoiding apples, hard candy, and extremely sticky candy such as toffee. Gum chewing may not be the best thing for the applications, either. Use your discretion in conjunction with the foods your dentist recommends you avoid. Protect Your Veneers If you aren't in the habit of wearing a mouthpiece when playing contact sports, this is a good time to avail yourself of the option. Ideally, you should avoid taking shots to the mouth in general, but things happen. If you have a mouthpiece protecting you, the porcelain (or whatever material you chose) is less likely to crack under the strain of the trauma. Plus, it's just a good idea for oral health care in general. If you know yourself to be a nighttime tooth grinder, you may also want to invest in a mouthpiece. Soft Bristles Dentists recommend using a toothbrush with soft bristles regardless of whether you've had work done. If you have veneers, though, it is especially important. This goes particularly for porcelain. If you've ever taken a scratch pad to a car's finish, you've seen what can happen when hard bristles meet veneers. The finish gets scraped up and the luster disappears. If you use soft bristles, it's more akin to wiping that car with a baby-soft cloth. The activity will polish your teeth, instead of ruining them. As with anything else regarding your oral health care, trust your dentist above all else when it comes to tips for healthy and beautiful teeth. Wearing veneers can give you a new lease on life, improving your confidence and brightening your smile. Extend that good feeling by taking good care of them.