Protect Your Smile: Proper Care for Your Porcelain Veneers

For patients who have received them, porcelain veneers are often viewed as the ideal way to enhance any smile and create that perfectly white row of gorgeous teeth that we all so desperately crave. Like anything else in life, however, that enhancement needs to be properly maintained over time if that ideal smile is to survive all the many threats it confronts each day. If you have porcelain veneers and are unsure about the proper way to care for them, these tips are for you!

Focus on the Daily Hygiene Ritual

Some people might think that having veneers means never having to say “hello” to your toothbrush again – but they’d be wrong to believe that. The reality is that veneers can only be maintained with a commitment to daily hygiene. If you fail to brush and floss properly, you’ll be leaving yourself vulnerable to the same outside forces that would otherwise threaten the health of your teeth and gums.

To prevent that, you should continue to brush your teeth twice daily, using a soft-bristle brush that won’t scratch the veneers’ surface. You also want a gentler toothpaste without any of the abrasive ingredients that might damage the porcelain. Finally, floss daily too to ensure that you are removing plaque and debris that could threaten your oral health.

Never Forget that Veneers Can Suffer Stains Too

Veneers might give you that pearly-white smile of your dreams, but that whiteness can be compromised if you don’t watch what you eat and drink. Yes, porcelain veneers can be stained in much the same way that your natural teeth can be stained. Foods like berries, red sauces, and other options with dark pigmentation can leave stubborn stains on the surface of your veneers. So too can red wine, tea, coffee, and certain dark juices. Avoid these foods when possible, or at least brush thoroughly after you’ve consumed them to remove any residue on the porcelain surface.

Don’t Skip Those Dental Appointments

Regular dental appointments are the oft-forgotten critical component of oral health, and they’re sometimes neglected by those with veneers as well. You should be visiting your dentist at least twice a year just for regular dental checkups and cleanings. For veneers, however, experts recommend that you have a professional cleaning done as many as four times in a year. Your dentist has access to tools and cleaners that can keep those veneers at their sparkling best, so always be sure to keep those scheduled appointments.

At Ebenezer Dental, our team understands that you have a busy life and may have assumed that your porcelain veneers might simplify your dental upkeep. To keep them looking their best, however, it is vital that you treat them as you would treat your natural teeth – with great care and a commitment to keeping them in great condition for as long as possible. Give us a call today to schedule your next appointment, and discover how the best dentist in midtown Manhattan can help you properly care for your perfect smile.