Good oral hygiene and a beautiful smile go hand in hand. But if your teeth are severely stained, chipped, or misaligned, it can be difficult to maintain a bright and healthy-looking smile. Don’t worry though, our Honolulu dentist has the expertise to help. They will sort out all your dental issues.
A great way to restore the appearance of your teeth is with porcelain veneers. These are thin shells that are bonded onto the front surfaces of teeth to fix common aesthetic issues. But once you get them installed, what’s next? Can you still eat normally without damaging your new look? Yes, you can eat normally with veneers, but there are some things you should keep in mind to protect them and ensure their longevity;
Avoid Biting Into Hard Or Crunchy Foods
These types of foods can damage or even dislodge veneers, leading to expensive and time-consuming repairs. A broken or loose veneer can also cause discomfort and even infection if left untreated.
Biting into a hard candy or ice cube can easily crack or break a veneer. Similarly, consuming tough meats, popcorn kernels, and even certain types of bread with a hard crust can put undue pressure on veneers that may lead to their failure.
In contrast, there are many foods that are considered safe to eat with veneers. Soft foods like cooked vegetables, eggs, and pasta are typically easy on veneers and unlikely to cause any damage. Consuming fruits that are cut into small pieces can also help protect veneers.
Chew With Your Back Teeth
This means that when you bite into food, you should try to use your molars and premolars to do the work of breaking it down rather than relying on your front teeth.
The reason for this is that veneers are typically placed on the front teeth, which are more susceptible to damage from biting into hard or tough foods. By using your back teeth to chew, you can reduce the risk of damaging your veneers or causing them to come loose. Chewing with your back teeth can also help to distribute the pressure more evenly across your teeth, which can reduce the likelihood of developing cracks or chips in your veneers over time.
It’s worth noting that this advice isn’t just applicable to people with veneers; in fact, it’s generally a good idea to chew with your back teeth as much as possible, regardless of whether or not you have any dental restorations. Using your molars and premolars to chew can help to minimize wear and tear on your front teeth, which are typically more sensitive and prone to damage than other teeth in your mouth.
Avoid Staining Foods And Drinks
Although veneers are resistant to staining compared to natural teeth, they are not completely impervious. As a result, it’s essential to be aware of the meals and beverages that have the potential to stain your veneers.
Foods and drinks with strong pigmentation are the culprits responsible for stains on veneers. These include coffee, tea, red wine, tomato sauce, soy sauce, and berries, among others. These food and drink items can discolor your veneers and affect their lifespan.
If you cannot avoid these types of drinks entirely, there are some tips that can help minimize the staining effect on your dental veneers. One approach is to consume staining beverages with a straw, directly placing them at the back of your mouth, away from your veneers. This way, there is minimal contact with the surface of your veneers, reducing the chances of staining.
Alternatively, drinking water can help to wash away any stain-causing agents in your mouth. Before consuming anything, take a sip of water and swish it around your mouth. This can aid in removing any leftover food or drink particles from your dental veneers.
Maintaining proper oral hygiene is also crucial in preventing stains on veneers. Brushing and flossing regularly, including after meals or drinking staining liquids, can help to remove any leftover particles from your veneers. This will keep them clean and bright, prolonging their lifespan.
It’s important to understand the implications of having veneers if you want to get the best possible outcome from them. As we’ve seen, eating comfortably with veneers is quite feasible as long as you make a few modifications to your diet and refrain from consuming hard and crunchy foods. Remember, taking good care of your pearly whites is paramount when it comes to enhancing your smile. Ultimately, getting the perfect smile entails a great deal more than just opting for veneers. Establishing healthy habits is critical if you want your teeth and consequently, your confidence to be at peak level.
