Porcelain veneers are one of the best ways to sport picture-worthy smiles nowadays. They’re thin shells made from porcelain bonded over your teeth’s front surface. They help you hide imperfections, such as a gapped smile, misaligned teeth, and chips, cracks, or stains. Compared to dentures and other solutions, veneers look real, freshly cleaned teeth.
They’re also very durable, lasting up to 20 years or more. However, while they can be intact and strong, the underlying teeth still need proper oral hygiene.
The good news is that taking care of your veneers doesn’t need an entire regimen. Maintaining them is as easy as following these tips:
Brush Your Teeth for 2 Minutes, Twice A Day
The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth for at least two minutes. This time is enough to thoroughly brush every nook and cranny in your mouth, including every tooth and those with porcelain veneers. It’s also advised to use toothpaste with fluoride. While it’s naturally found in your teeth and public water, it’s necessary to use it for added protection in your teeth. Generally, fluoride prevents cavities and strengthens enamel, the outer layer of our teeth.
Brushing your teeth twice a day is a must, too. Doing so removes plaque before it hardens into position and causes cavities. It also gets rid of microbes that can cause bad breath and residual pigments from colored food and drinks that can discolor your teeth. Additionally, it supports gum health by diluting the inflammatory acid that may lead to gum disease and killing the bacteria that produce it.
Floss Once A Day
The porcelain in veneers doesn’t usually decay. However, remember that they only cover only half of your visible teeth. In other words, the uncovered surfaces are still prone to cavities, bacterial plaque, and infections like gum disease. Hence, they need to be brushed and flossed daily.
Flossing each day is recommended because there are places that toothbrush bristles can’t reach. These include between your teeth and along your gum line, which are ideal places for plaque to hide. Flossing can prevent cavities in these areas, whether on your natural teeth or dental veneers.
Flossing doesn’t pull out the dental work off your teeth. It’s perfectly fine and even necessary to floss your dental veneers and the teeth around them, but you must be gentle and careful. To do so, follow these steps:
- Slide a strand of floss in between your teeth.
- Wrap it against another tooth.
- Carefully slip it up and down the side of your tooth, veneer, and under your gums’ edges.
- Repeat the process several times before curving the strand around the next tooth.
- Continue flossing until each tooth is flossed.
Remember not to force the up-and-down flossing. Instead, adopt a C-shape around the side of your teeth and veneers to achieve optimal results. If the floss catches something, call your dentist right away.
Avoid Hard, Starchy, Sugary, and Acidic Foods
Biting down on hard objects may chip or crack the porcelain in your veneers. Although porcelain is hard, it’s still slightly more brittle than your natural tooth enamel. Specifically, avoid doing the following:
- Opening plastic packaging, beer caps, or glass bottle;
- Habitually biting fingernails, pencils, or pens;
- Snacking on jawbreakers, popcorn, toasted bread, caramel, nuts, and some raw fruits and vegetables, such as apples and carrots; and
- Eating tough meats, such as steak or bone-in meats.
Be careful about foods and drinks high in sugar (like cake and soda) and starch (like white bread and pasta). They can contribute to cavities and tooth decay, which aren’t good for your teeth and veneers. Acidic foods (like citrus fruits) can also erode your teeth under the veneer and eventually promote decay, especially when they’re regularly consumed.
What is Safe to Eat with Veneers?
You’ll be advised to eat soft foods if you’re still on your temporary veneers. You can eat mashed potatoes, bananas, eggs, and chicken. When your permanent porcelain veneers are on, you can expand your diet but still avoid hard-to-chew, starchy, and sugary foods and drinks.
Moreover, limit the intake of dark-colored drinks (like tea, coffee, and red wine). Although not very easily, they may stain your teeth and veneers. Typically, they can contribute to the dark or blue-gray lines around the veneers.
Other Reasons for Discoloration of Veneers
Discoloration of your veneers may also be caused by not having “pure” porcelain. It’s often called “porcelain fused to metal,” usually from gold, copper, or platinum, an outdated dental veneer application form.
Another reason is that your veneers weren’t properly bonded. When this happens, some substances from dental adhesives may leak between your teeth and veneers, which eventually causes discoloration.
Lastly, discoloration may also be caused when your veneers aren’t properly smoothed down with your gum line. This causes a very small space between your gums and your veneers that’s hard to clean, which may result in an accumulation of microbes and, ultimately, discoloration.
Can Medicare Cover Dental Services?
Many people are confused about whether there’s Medicare dental coverage. Original Medicare doesn’t usually cover tooth extractions, cleanings, fillings, dentures, dental plates, dental X-rays, and other dental care, procedures, or supplies.
However, Original Medicare Part A (or hospital insurance) can cover certain emergency or complicated dental services or procedures.
Typically, they should be a critical part of a covered procedure, such as jaw reconstruction surgery or oral tests (not treatment) before heart valve replacements or kidney transplants.
If you avail of typical dental coverage, opt for Medicare Part C, also called Medicare Advantage Plans. It’s a comprehensive plan of dental, vision, and prescription benefits. Still and all, not every Part C Plan includes Medicare dental coverage.
Dental benefits vary, so be sure to confirm what dental services are included exactly before enrolling.
Final Thoughts
For more specific foods and drinks to avoid and eat with veneers, it’s best to consult your dentist. It’s especially important to seek a professional if your teeth, veneers, or gums are experiencing discoloration, swelling, and pain.
Also read: 3 Different Types of Dental Implants
