Prolong the Life of Your Porcelain Veneers with Proper Aftercare

Porcelain veneers are a great treatment that can mask dental flaws and improve the overall aesthetics of the smile. Although porcelain veneers are durable, proper aftercare can help extend their lifespan, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of this treatment for years to come. Follow these porcelain veneer aftercare tips from Montreal, QC dentists Charles and Patrick Casey to keep your porcelain veneers at their best.

The Importance of Proper Aftercare

Properly caring for porcelain veneers is not only important to prolonging the life of porcelain veneers but also to protecting your overall oral health. Once porcelain veneers are placed, it's still possible for the underlying teeth to be affected by decay. Porcelain veneers will need to be replaced if the teeth supporting the porcelain veneers become decayed or otherwise damaged.

Gum health is also important to prolonging the lifespan of porcelain veneers. Plaque and tartar buildup can lead to gum disease, an infection of the gums marked by bleeding or puffy gum. Practicing proper oral hygiene, including brushing and flossing regularly, can reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, preventing complications that can result in the need for porcelain veneers replacement.

Caring for Your Porcelain Veneers

Practicing proper oral hygiene is just one component of protecting your oral health and prolonging the life of your porcelain veneers. You can help keep your porcelain veneers looking and functioning their best with these aftercare tips:

• Practice proper oral hygiene: Proper oral hygiene includes brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day. Practicing proper oral hygiene helps prolong the life of porcelain veneers by keeping the underlying teeth strong and healthy.
• Use soft-bristled toothbrushes: Hard-bristled toothbrushes can be overly abrasive, scratching porcelain veneers and increasing the risk of staining. Those who have porcelain veneers should use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently clean their veneers and prevent scratching of the veneer's surface.
• Avoid overly abrasive toothpastes: Similar to hard-bristled toothbrushes, abrasive toothpastes can scratch veneers, allowing staining to occur. Avoid abrasive toothpastes to prevent damage to your veneers.
• Don't bite or chew on hard objects: Chewing or biting on hard objects, like pen caps or fingernails, can chip or fracture porcelain veneers.
• Don't use your teeth as tools: Using your teeth as tools to open packages or cut tape is dangerous to the natural teeth and porcelain veneers because it can lead to chips or fractures.
• Avoid dark alcoholic beverages: Dark alcoholic beverages, like red wine, can stain porcelain veneers and soften the resin used to bond the veneers to the teeth.  
• Wear a mouth guard: Porcelain veneers are commonly used to repair damage caused by teeth grinding or sports-related injuries. Patients who have received porcelain veneers for these reasons should wear a mouth guard to protect the veneers and underlying teeth from further damage.
• See your dentist for regular cleanings and check-ups: Regular check-ups and cleanings are necessary for maintaining your porcelain veneers and protecting your oral health, allowing your dentist to catch any signs of damage to the underlying teeth or the veneers early.

Schedule a Consultation

For more tips on caring for porcelain veneers, or to discuss other dental concerns, we welcome you to schedule a consultation with Drs. Charles or Patrick Casey.