3 Ways To Protect The Beauty Of Your New Porcelain Veneers

You have invested in your smile and opted to have porcelain veneers added to your teeth. You are astounded with the flashy results and hope this gorgeous smile lasts you a lifetime. Even though the modern materials used to create and bond porcelain veneers to your teeth are pretty resilient, these materials can still be damaged if you are not careful. If you want to make your porcelain veneers last you as long as possible, there are a few things you should keep in mind about protecting them. 

Be careful when you are eating with utensils. 

Even though the porcelain material used to make your veneers is pretty strong, they can break under direct impact on hard objects. The majority of people who sustain a broken or chipped veneer do so because they inadvertently bit down on an eating utensil, such as a fork or a spoon, a little too hard. Therefore, if you want to protect the life of your new veneers, you really will have to start being careful about how you hold your teeth while you eat. Do your best not to clamp down directly on the hard metal while you bite. 

Stay away from cigarettes and other tobacco products. 

Any dentist will recommend that you stop smoking or using smokeless tobacco if you value the health of your natural teeth, but the same goes with porcelain veneers as well. The high temperatures in your mouth caused by inhaling smoke can actually damage the bond behind your veneers. Plus, tobacco use of any kind can cause ugly stains that simply will not come off of the porcelain material. If you smoke or use tobacco, it is best to stop if you want to protect the life span of your gorgeous new smile. 

Watch out for habitual teeth grinding. 

Bruxism, which is a medical term for grinding your teeth together, is definitely a problem that can affect the life of your new porcelain veneers. If you have a habit of grinding through the day, do things to correct this habit like chewing sugarless gum. If you know you grind your teeth at night when you sleep, invest in a mouthguard to protect your teeth so they do not grind together. Grinding your natural teeth together can make them more prone to decay, but grinding your teeth with porcelain veneers can cause the veneers to wear away, chip, and break. 

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