How To Keep Your Veneers Looking Great

Veneers are an effective way to improve the appearance of your teeth. However, after you have gotten your veneers, if you are not careful with the choices you make, you can ruin the appearance of your veneers.

Get Your Veneers Right From The Beginning

Veneers are intended to be a permanent solution and you will not be able to take them off. Your original teeth are shaved down so that the veneers can be attached. Therefore, you will want your veneers to look great the first time around. Consider finding a magazine that contains a photograph of a model who has the type of teeth you would like to have. The image will allow you to articulate to your dentist exactly what you want.

Get Porcelain Veneers

Make sure to get porcelain veneers instead of plastic veneers. Porcelain is denser, which causes the color to be more stable. Plastic veneers can become darker over time. Since veneers cannot absorb staining agents, if your veneers have become darker, you will not be able to whiten them. However, you may be able to bleach the back of your teeth to brighten your smile.

Have Your Veneers Polished

Every couple of months, you can have your veneers polished to improve their appearance. The polishing will need to be performed by a dental hygienist who will use specialized tools and a cleaning solution. You will want to work with an experienced dentist who will not dull the veneers. If the veneers are well-done, they will have a glossy sheen.

Keep Staining Agents From Touching Your Teeth

Avoid staining agents such as coffee, red wine, soda, berries and beets. When drinking soda, try to use a straw. However, even with a straw, some of the soda will likely get on your veneers. When you do consume these foods, brush your teeth shortly afterward. You may try to whiten your veneers with a whitening toothpaste, but these toothpastes can be abrasive and can dull your veneers.

Be Careful With What You Eat

Avoid chewing on hard foods such as nuts, hard candy or popcorn. You may chip your veneers. Fortunately, most of your chewing will likely be done with the back of your teeth. Do not use your teeth like tools to tear open packages or to open a bottle, since you might chip them. But if you are careful, you will be able to keep great veneers for a long time.

For more information about veneers and how to maintain them, talk with a professional dentist, such as Aaron G Birch, DDS PC.