How To Make Your Porcelain Veneers Last Longer

Porcelain veneers are not designed to last forever. However, if you take special measures to protect your porcelain veneers, you can make them last longer than they otherwise would.

Treating Your Teeth Beforehand

Prior to getting porcelain veneers, if you have any issues with your teeth, you will want to have them corrected. Otherwise, the problems that you have with your teeth will continue to exist and affect them. Your gums will become irritated and tender.

One of the most common problems that might exist before you get porcelain veneers is gum disease. A professional dental cleaning can sometimes remove the plaque and tartar that causes gum disease. However, depending on the severity of the gum disease, you might need bone grafts, guided tissue regeneration or bone surgery.

Professional Cleaning

Porcelain veneers should have a professional cleaning four times a year. Cleaning the veneers will prevent pitting, chipping and staining. The dentist will also make sure that no plaque has formed on the back of your teeth.

At Home Cleaning

When you clean your veneers at home, you can use a whitening toothpaste. While you cannot alter the color of the veneers, the whitening toothpaste will prevent staining films from forming on the veneers. You can simply floss and rinse just like you would with natural teeth, except that you should take care to brush and floss more gently. That way, you can avoid placing pressure on the wrong places, which could cause your teeth to chip or crack. One way to protect your veneers is to slide the floss in sideways rather than simply sliding the floss directly down toward the gums.

Polishing

Every couple of months, porcelain veneers can be polished. The polishing needs to be performed by a professional hygienist, like those at Springdale Family Dental, because it will require special tools and cleaning solutions. If you do not use the right polishing equipment, the process will create a rough surface for the veneers and it will be easier for stains to cling to the veneers.

Avoiding Damage

Certain actions that would normally be harmless with normal teeth can damage porcelain veneers. If you have a habit of chewing your finger nails, you will need to stop If you have a tooth grinding habit, this can cause damage to the veneers over time and you will want to get a mouth guard that can protect your veneers from damage, especially if you grind your teeth while sleeping.