Do You Have To Brush Veneers?
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Porcelain Veneers in London Waterloo
Dental veneers (porcelain veneers and composite veneers) are increasingly gaining in popularity with beauty conscious women and men in London, especially those who are after a smile makeover to improve the appearance of their teeth and smile. At Whites Dental in London Waterloo, our cosmetic dentists provide a range of cosmetic dentistry treatments in London City, such as dental bonding, porcelain veneers, composite veneers, whitening and smile alignment.
Dental veneer is a thin layer of porcelain made to fit over the front surface of a tooth, like a false fingernail fits over a nail to re-create the natural look of teeth, while also providing strength and resilience comparable to enamel. Occasionally a natural-colour ‘composite’ material is used instead of porcelain. Veneers are often used to correct stained, chipped, misaligned, uneven, worn down or abnormally spaced teeth. Looking after your veneers correctly can extend the life of your porcelain or composite veneers. On average porcelain veneers can last 10 to 17 years and composite veneers can last around 5 years. However, with care your veneers can last for a much longer period.
Do you have to brush veneers?
Now is not the time to retire that electric toothbrush. To keep your veneers looking amazing for the longest possible amount of time, you have to go to the dentist at least twice a year for cleanings and be consistent about brushing and flossing. Veneers are an investment that you have to take care of. If you don’t, you’ll need to replace them sooner than the standard 15 to 20 years.
How do I care for my veneers?
After the procedure, your gums may feel a little sore. This is normal and will settle down after a few days of careful brushing. Veneers are not hard to maintain and do not require any special care- they simply require the same care as your other teeth.
Maintain good oral hygiene – Maintaining a good oral hygiene such as brushing twice a day and flossing once daily can help extend the longevity of your veneers. You should look after veneers as you would your natural teeth. It is important to note that veneers do not stop the build-up of decay on teeth. For this reason, it is important to maintain a high standard of oral health. As well, aggressive brushing and insufficient dental care can lead to gum recession. This is where the gums start receding around your teeth, and the junction between the veneer and your tooth will become visible. The more recession, the more visible the junction becomes. If those areas become unsightly you may need to replace your veneers.
A good indication of hard brushing is how quickly your toothbrush becomes worn. If you are finding within a month or two of using a new toothbrush it is worn, you are most likely brushing too hard. Try using a soft toothbrush or holding your toothbrush with your fingertips.
Attend 6 monthly check-up and cleans – Check-up and cleans can help to remove build-up plaque that your toothbrush cannot remove alone. If plaque is left to build up, your veneers might need to be removed to access the area. You should also ask your dentist to check your veneers to see if they are still secured or if there are any visible signs of vulnerability. Seeing the dentist frequently can help detect diseases, abnormalities and early signs of decay. Further, attending regular check-ups and cleans is not only important for your health, it also keeps your treatment warranty valid.
Don’t chew hard foods – Anything that can chip or crack your tooth can also chip or crack your veneer. Direct pressure with hard foods on the end of a veneer may cause it damage. For this reason, we recommend avoiding biting directly into hard foods (e.g. ice, raw carrots, corn and nuts). Instead chop them up into small bite sized pieces. If damaged, a veneer will need to be replaced. This also goes for chewing hard objects. If you have a habit of chewing on pens, pencils or opening bottles with teeth, this can be harmful to your veneers.
Avoid teeth grinding (Bruxism) – When we become stressed, have an abnormal bite or even a sleeping disorder we might grind our teeth together. We recommend to our patients (especially those with porcelain veneers) to have a night guard made to help protect teeth during sleep. Teeth grinding or clenching at night in some cases may cause damage to veneers.
Avoid staining foods – Porcelain veneers are stain-resistant, however, over time certain foods and drink can tarnish their pearly white appearance. The worst offenders for staining veneers are coffee, tea, wine and cigarettes. If you are not ready to give up your favourite drink, try drinking out of a straw as this can limit stains on teeth.
Limit alcohol consumption – Large quantities of alcohol can soften the bonding cement that attaches the veneer to the tooth. This leaves the bonding agent prone to damage, erosion and stains. This is not to say the veneer will fall off, it simply makes it more susceptible to outside forces. Alcohol can also be found in toothpaste and mouthwash. So, check the label and make sure your tooth cleaning products are alcohol-free.
Can you still get cavities with veneers?
Yes! Not only can you can get cavities where the veneer isn’t covering the tooth, but you can also get cavities underneath them. Veneers (whether they fully or partially cover the teeth) are not a set-it-and-forget-it kind of procedure, so again, you’ll need to really take care of them to ensure they last as long as possible.
If you are interested in getting veneers or would like more information why don’t you book in for a free consultation with one of our cosmetic dentists?
You can find more information on how to improve your smile on our cosmetic dentistry homepage (see link below). Our homepage provides more details on treatments such as composite bonding, veneer’s, whitening and teeth alignment. https://www.whitesdental.co.uk/cosmetic-dentistry/
At Whites Dental, we have some the leading cosmetic dentists in London providing state of the art cosmetic dentistry to patients around us in London Waterloo, Southwark, Central London, Elephant and Castle and London Bridge. We offer ethically priced composite bonding, teeth whitening, porcelain veneer and composite veneer procedures to patients near us in London Waterloo. We are right across the road from Southwark Tube station and very close to London Waterloo rail station. We are a 6 to 8 minutes’ walk from Elephant and Castle tube station, London Bridge, Borough Market and a 4 to 6 minutes’ walk from Blackfriars station and Southbank.