Dental veneers are the most effective way to refurbish your entire smile. They can be used to cover old stains, fix chipped teeth, and even give the appearance that your teeth are perfectly straight. This is possible because each veneer is an ultra-thin shell made of porcelain or resin. Each shell is fixed to the front of your natural tooth, allowing you to completely rebuild your smile. Of course, you’ll still have to take care of your teeth to preserve your natural teeth and protect the bond holding your veneers in place. That includes some foods to avoid with veneers (drinks too) that could damage that bond or the veneers themselves.
Foods to Avoid with Veneers
Here are a few of the riskiest foods to avoid with veneers. At Coastland Dental, we are here for all your cosmetic dentistry needs. For the best porcelain veneers in Burbank, look no further.
Be Careful with Bone-In Meats
You don’t want to risk chipping your veneers, so it’s best to avoid very hard foods. You’ll want to be careful with nuts and seeds, especially while you have temporary veneers in place. The one thing you’ll want to be especially cautious with bone-in meats. If you’re biting directly into a drumstick or set of ribs, then be sure to keep your veneers well away from the bone. You can easily remove the excess meat with a knife and avoid damaging your brand new smile.
You Should Never Chew Ice
Even without serious dental work, it is always a bad idea to chew ice. Your teeth simply aren’t designed for it. The enamel that protects your teeth may be hard, but ice is harder. Chewing ice may cause damage to that protective layer, exposing the more sensitive layers of your teeth to decay. When you have veneers, the risk of damage is doubled. Ice can easily chip your veneers, ruining your perfect smile.
Acids Aren’t Your Friend
Acids can temporarily weaken your enamel. After enjoying a glass of red wine or lemonade, it’s always a good idea to neutralize the acid before brushing your teeth. You can do that by rinsing with a neutral or basic liquid. Simply rinsing your mouth with water is usually enough. Unfortunately, these same acids are also capable of damaging the bond holding your veneers in place. That can make the veneers less stable. You will want to decrease your consumption or choose to drink them through a re-usable straw to reduce the liquid’s contact with your teeth.
Cut Back on the Coffee
One of the major benefits of veneers is the ability to give your teeth a whiter appearance. Unfortunately, they aren’t impermeable to staining. The veneers will require all the same care that your natural teeth need. To prevent your veneers from being stained, you will want to consume staining liquids with caution. Brushing afterward or using a straw to limit contact are great ways to reduce the chance that you will stain your veneers.
Reduce Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol is another liquid that can undermine the bond that holds your veneers in place. As a result, it’s important to limit alcohol consumption. A drink now and again is perfectly fine, but excessive alcohol consumption can severely weaken your veneer’s connection to your teeth.
Sticky Foods
You will want to avoid putting any additional strain on your veneers. That means that you will need to be careful with sticky foods. Items like taffy and caramel can cause serious problems for your veneers, so it is best to clear them out of your diet entirely. You can still enjoy other sticky foods, but you should avoid chewing them with the teeth that have had veneers bonded to them.
Overall, you can enjoy practically all of your favorite things even with your porcelain veneers. You just have to proceed cautiously and listen to your dentist at Coastland Dental to make sure you keep that beautiful smile for life.