Porcelain veneers can provide a solution to flaws in your teeth like stains, chips, and cracks while lasting for up to two decades. They fit perfectly in your smile because they mimic the color, luster, and shape of natural teeth. If you’re interested in using them to have a shiny new smile, you might ask how your habits would have to change to get the most time out of your investment. Here are some tips on how you can manage your diet to maximize the lifetime of your veneers.
How Should I Eat with Temporary Veneers?
Permanent veneers take about two to three weeks to be completed at an external dental lab. In the meantime, you will be outfitted with temporary veneers to protect your teeth. These can be dislodged due to stress like grinding or eating tough or crunchy foods. While wearing your temporary set, you should take care to avoid the following foods:
- Hard items like ice, candy, popcorn, or raw vegetables.
- Tough meats like steak or pork chops.
- Hard, crusty bread, pretzels, and tough granola bars.
- Sticky foods like taffy and caramel.
- Candies like jawbreakers, hard caramels, and lollipops.
- Foods heavy in pigments like tea, cola, coffee, berries, ketchup, and red wine.
However, there are plenty of delicious foods you can have while you’re waiting on your permanent set. You should go with soft foods that won’t stain, like eggs, pasta, soft bread, bananas, chicken, mashed potatoes, and softer canned foods.
How Can I Chow Down with Permanent Veneers?
Veneers made from high-grade porcelain can last for decades with good hygiene and maintenance. This material also does a great job of resisting stains. Permanent veneers are more durable than their temporary predecessors, so your diet will be much freer after they are placed. However, they are not indestructible, so here are some good habits to keep in mind.
Consume dark liquids such as coffee and red wine in moderation, as too much can stain your permanent veneers. Don’t bite down on hard foods like popcorn kernels or nuts. You should limit your intake of strong drinks because the alcohol can erode the cement holding your veneers in place. You should also quit tobacco because habits like smoking, chewing, and the like can not only stain the porcelain, but weaken the cement as well.
How Can I Best Take Care of My Veneers?
Good oral hygiene is a crucial part of keeping your veneers long-lasting and visually appealing. Be sure to brush your teeth twice a day or between meals in addition to flossing and using antibacterial mouthwash once a day.
After consuming things heavy in pigment like berries or dark liquids, drink or swish some plain water to help wash the residue away, then wait a half hour before brushing your teeth. Drinking such beverages with a straw will greatly reduce their exposure to your teeth and veneers. Another good practice is to cut your food, especially tough meats, into small bites and chew them slowly. This will reduce stress on your veneers.
All-in-all, care for permanent porcelain veneers isn’t much different from healthy eating and good oral care. While these are all excellent guidelines for their maintenance, your dentist can give you a more detailed and personalized review of what you’ll need to make the most out of your investment.
About the Practice
Zahner Dental has spent almost four decades serving the oral health needs of Ellington, CT. Led by Drs. Warren, Shawn, and Jonathan Zahner, the staff provides patients with high quality care with compassion, dedication, and the latest technology. Services include preventive, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry including porcelain veneers. If you are curious about what veneers can do for you, contact the office online or dial (860) 870-9031.