Should Your Diet Change If You Get Veneers?

Should you get porcelain veneers, you can expect excellent results. After all, the shells are versatile and transform tooth color, position, and shape! Still, you’ll need to take good care of them after placement. Veneers require a diet change if they’re to last long. In particular, switch what you eat and drink to ensure they persist. Your Hampton dentist even has a few ideas on the matter. To that end, here’s why to change your diet for veneers, how to do so, and other veneer care tips.

You Should Change Your Diet for Veneers

Yes, veneers are fairly durable and stain-resistant. Their porcelain material ensures that much. However, switching out some foods and drinks when using them is still a good idea.

You see, meals can damage veneers if you’re not careful. They might result in the shells chipping, cracking, or even falling off. Should such things happen, you’d likely need a re-treatment from your local dentist. You’d thus have to pay extra money for replacement veneers.

Foods & Drinks to Avoid with Veneers

Regarding your diet, some foods and drinks are more harmful to veneers than others. Therefore, you should avoid the relevant kinds to ensure your new smile stays safe.

For instance, consider hard foods – candy, raw fruits and veggies, ice, etc. These items could easily chip a veneer in some cases. As such, limiting their intake is best so you don’t have an unforeseen accident.

Dark-colored liquids are also best avoided. Drinks like red wine, black tea, and coffee contain tannins, which are stain agents. Consequently, having too many of these beverages could discolor the porcelain shells. You’d then somewhat embarrass yourself with yellowish veneers.

Other Veneer Care Tips

Aside from avoiding foods and drinks, there are other ways to care for veneers. These methods include the following:

• Practice Good Oral Hygiene – While veneers don’t get cavities or tooth decay, they can accumulate plaque. This bacterial layer can cause illnesses that threaten your treatment results. That said, keep the conditions at bay by brushing twice daily, flossing once daily, and rinsing with mouthwash.
• Avoid Bad Oral Habits – Biting hard objects – fingernails, packages, ice cubes, etc. – isn’t good for you. Besides wearing down your enamel, the habit can crack veneers. So, refrain from these habits as best you can.
• See Your Dentist Often – Regular dental checkups and cleanings protect veneers. These dental visits, you see, prevent minor oral issues from growing worse. They thus prevent potential threats to your porcelain veneers.

In the end, veneers do require a diet change for effective results. As needed, then, switch out your foods and drinks for a cleaner, longer-lasting smile.

About the Practice

Oceanside Family Dental is based in Hampton, NH. Led by Dr. Neelima Ravi, our practice will always strive to give patients their ideal smiles. To that end, we perform preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, as well as emergency dental care. We’re thus able to provide everything from the standard dental checkup to the very best porcelain veneers. For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (603)-926-1551.