One of the best dental solutions for providing one with a bright, flawless smile, while hiding all dental issues and imperfections such as chips, cracks, or stains, would be the installation of porcelain veneers. This orthodontic treatment can help correct a wide range of cosmetic dental conditions — from changing the shape, size, length, to even the color of one’s teeth. It can even restore damaged or cracked teeth, and even teeth having slight gaps in between.
Porcelain veneers are thin shells of porcelain, matching the natural color of your teeth or according to the shade of whiteness that is bonded to the teeth surface. Its primary purpose is for correcting a wide range of cosmetic dental issues, by changing the shape, size, length, or color of your teeth. This dental solution can last a longer period of time, as long as it is equipped with proper care.
Permanent veneers are composed of high-quality materials that will endure a long time. High-grade porcelain, for example, can last for up to two decades and is stain-resistant. Because permanent veneers are less likely to be damaged, your dietary options will expand once the temporaries are removed and replaced. However, because permanent veneers are not indestructible, it is important to avoid things that could harm them.
As mentioned above, while the application of porcelain veneers is definitely an effective solution to address several dental issues, you must still practice certain maintenance measures, for it to last long, and provide optimal results to your teeth. And apart from brushing your teeth properly as one of the most important ways to take care of the veneers, you also need to take certain foods and beverages into consideration. You might have to make changes to your diet, in order for your veneers to not be damaged. You have to know what foods and drinks to consume, and what needs to be avoided. Knowing this is very essential, as it greatly affects the overall result that the veneers will provide you.
Foods and Drinks to Avoid
There are a number of foods and drinks that you must avoid consuming, as part of the measures that you are required to practice in taking care of your porcelain veneers. Also, it is important to understand that though the veneers themselves are stain-resistant, the bonding material and your natural teeth are not. As a result, if you consume staining foods and beverages, your veneers may appear brighter than some of your natural teeth.
Moreover, although porcelain veneers are made up of high-quality materials, they are not indestructible. This makes it the reason why it is important to avoid hard-biting foods as much as possible, to avoid further damage.
Acidic Food and Drinks
With porcelain veneers, you must limit your consumption of foods and drinks that are acidic. This includes citrus fruits like oranges and lemons, tomato sauce, cocktails, beers and other alcoholic beverages, as well as other cool drinks. Doing so might erode the bonding material of the veneers, damaging the application itself.
Biting Into Ice
If you chew on ice frequently, it may cause early wear and tear on your new porcelain veneers. Though these veneers are made with durable material, they are not unbreakable. A hard substance, such as ice, can eventually chip or break the veneers. Thus, eating ice, whether with or without veneers, is a terrible habit. It can even lead to even more serious tooth issues.
Biting Into Hard Foods
While it is acceptable to indulge in sweet snacks now and again while wearing porcelain veneers, there are several desserts you should avoid. Biting on hard candy involves a lot of power from your teeth and veneers. This puts them in danger of cracking and breaking. If you have porcelain veneers, you should avoid sticky foods like caramel or taffy. These can become lodged in your veneers, making them challenging to remove.
Also, hard foods like chicken legs or bone-in steaks can also chip the porcelain veneers. Thus, it is important to be mindful of how you will be biting them; they must not be too close to the bone. It is alright to enjoy eating steak occasionally. However, chewing through tough meats on a regular basis can be detrimental to your new porcelain veneers. In the worst-case scenario, the meat can rip the veneers away from your teeth. When preparing or dining out, choose soft cuts of meat like ground beef, grilled chicken, or tenderloin to avoid this problem. If you must use a tough cut of meat, tenderize it first by crushing it or boiling it slowly.
Consuming Alcoholic Beverages
Alcoholic beverages may sound appealing at the end of the day. But then, you should keep your intake under control if you have porcelain veneers. The bonding agent used to put the veneers on your teeth may be affected by the alcohol in your beverage. If you consume a lot of alcohol, you may notice that your veneers loosen with time.
Furthermore, too much consumption of alcoholic beverages might soften the surface of the bonding material. This might cause your porcelain veneers to become less secure. It might even damage the cement that is used to attach them onto your teeth.
Drinking Stain-Causing Beverages
As mentioned above, although porcelain veneers contain stain-resistant properties, the bonding material and the teeth beneath them are not resistant at all. Thus, you must limit your intake of stain-causing beverages like black tea, black coffee, or red wine.
Foods You Can Eat
Although there are several types of food that you must avoid as much as possible when you have porcelain veneers, there are other foods that are perfectly safe to eat. Dentists usually recommend those that are soft, and will not stain the veneers. And to be safe, eat everything with a knife and fork. You must avoid any extra force on your teeth, and stick to soft and light-colored foods. These include eggs, mashed potatoes, pasta, soft bread, bananas, chicken, and soft canned food.
Taking Care of Your Porcelain Veneers
There are times that you would not be able to avoid the intake of those that you have to avoid. Drinking pigmented drinks, for instance, such as coffee or red wine, while you have your porcelain veneers installed. It is recommended that you rinse your mouth with plain water immediately after ingesting dark liquids or berries. This is in order to reduce the negative effects of these drinks. After that, you can brush your teeth after half an hour. Taking these actions will limit the amount of time those pigmented substances are in contact with your teeth. Thus, reducing the likelihood of staining. Using a straw to sip these drinks can also limit the amount of contact between the drink and your teeth or veneers.
Porcelain veneers are extremely durable, but it is important to understand and remember that they are not your real teeth. So they will need a little extra attention. Brushing and flossing your veneers is just like brushing and flossing your natural teeth. It will not only prevent decay behind the veneers, but it will also assist in preventing gum disease.
Key Takeaway
Practicing healthy eating habits, while being conscious of what you consume regularly, will certainly let your porcelain veneers last a long time, providing a complete set of benefits that you can enjoy. From limiting yourself from hard and tough to chew foods, from alcohol and other stain-causing beverages, to the consumption of soft and light-colored foods, this will definitely help you maintain a bright, flawless smile you aim to have.
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