How to Keep Your Dental Veneers White

If you’ve invested in porcelain veneers, you’re most likely committed to keeping them white. This means changing or sticking to a few habits. Yellow veneers are as unattractive as yellow teeth. To avoid yellowing and other types of staining, veneers require maintenance that’s also healthy for regular teeth. Good dental habits should keep them looking like new for several years; here are tips that will keep your veneers looking white.

Regular Brushing and Flossing

Even with veneers, you should brush your teeth at least twice per day, using fluoride toothpaste. It’s generally a good idea to brush after meals or rinse your mouth with water if a toothbrush isn’t available. Food particles can easily get stuck to veneers. Flossing helps to get rid of these, plaque, and even bad breath. Plastic floss picks will clean your veneers as well.

Avoid Beverages that Stain Teeth

Coffee and tea can quickly cause yellow or brown stains to form on veneers. Drinking coffee through a straw might help keep your dental veneers white because any contact between staining beverages and veneers can lead to stains that are hard to remove. Nicotine is another substance that will stain veneers. Smoking, or any tobacco products for that matter, should be avoided.

Eat Fruits and Vegetables

Not only are fruits and vegetables good for your health. They’re good for your veneers too. Apples, celery, and other crunchy types of produce scrape away food particles that collect around your teeth with every snack or meal. They can also scrape off the plaque that can stick to veneers and discolor them.

Visit the Dentist Regularly

Even with veneers, it’s important to stick with six-month dental checkups. Your dentist will examine your veneers, perform any cleaning that is necessary, and correct any flaws. The edges are coated in a bonding resin that is more prone to staining than porcelain. Stains can be polished off, but a dental checkup will determine if there are any gaps between the veneer and the tooth, where bacteria can enter, or if the bond is breaking down. In this case, the veneers will have to be replaced.

Keeping your dental veneers white may require a change in habits. It certainly involves sticking to ones that avoid unsightly stains. Dental hygiene, proper diet, and regular dental visits will yield a smile as white as you want it to be.