You’re not alone if you’re considering getting veneers to address dental flaws and enhance your appearance. Sources report that an estimated 600,000 U.S. Americans receive them annually, making this an incredibly popular cosmetic dental procedure.
But it’s natural to have questions before proceeding, such as whether this treatment requires changes to your diet. Continue reading to learn more about it to help protect the recent upgrades to your grin!
What Are Veneers Made From?
Knowing what veneers are made from can help you better understand why certain foods can potentially harm them. These thin shells can be made from different materials, such as ceramic or acrylic, but they’re typically fabricated from tooth-colored porcelain that can be customized to resemble or enhance your natural enamel. Then, they’re cemented to the fronts of your teeth with a special dental cement and can potentially remain in place for 15+ years if properly cared for.
Will Veneers Require Diet Changes?
These durable restorations resist a certain amount of damage and discoloration and are strong enough to help shield the underlying teeth, but they’re not invincible. That means you must choose food carefully to avoid eating something that might harm them.
For example, eating highly acidic foods or drinking alcohol can eventually erode the bonding cement holding them in place, and they might become destabilized or dislodged. They can also be chipped, cracked, or pushed out of place by anything overly hard, crunchy, or sticky, such as nuts, chips, or candy. Meanwhile, frequent or prolonged exposure to common culprits known to stain, including tea, coffee, berries, tomatoes, and wine, can eventually tint them a darker shade.
Not only that, but you must also avoid sugary foods that contribute to cavities and gum disease, which don’t affect veneers directly but can damage the materials holding them in place and cause them to fail.
How Else Can I Help Maintain My Veneers?
In addition to steering clear of foods that might hurt your cosmetic covers, you can also help maintain them by:
- Implementing a dental hygiene routine. Brushing and flossing twice daily removes plaque and bacteria to help preserve your dental health.
- Protecting your teeth. If you grind your teeth at night or participate in sports, wearing a custom-fitted protective guard can help avoid physical trauma that might hurt them.
- Scheduling routine checkups. Seeing your dentist every 6 months for a dental exam and cleaning allows them to catch and address any areas of concern that might affect your veneers before the damage is done.
If you have additional questions about what life is like with veneers, your dentist can provide additional information that takes your unique circumstances into account!
Meet the Author
Dr. Mihran Asinmaz is passionate about helping improve his patients’ lives by helping them build the healthiest and most beautiful versions of their smiles. He earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine from the Nova Southeastern University, then completed a General Practice Residency at the North Shore- Long Island Jewish Health System. Today, he provides a comprehensive menu of services, including veneers, using state-of-the-art technology to deliver comfortable, lifelike results meant to last. You can request an appointment on the website or by calling (561) 640-9200.