How Your Diet Will Change If You Get Veneers

By Author: Eric Barajas
Total Articles: 54
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If you plan to get veneers, you’re making a great choice. The shells in question will truly transform your smile! That said, there are some things to keep in mind about treatment. In particular, veneers will require you to make some dietary changes. Their looks and function could suffer otherwise. To learn more about the matter, just listen to your local dental practice. Here is a summary of how veneers affect your diet and various ways to care for them.

You Should Avoid Certain Foods & Drinks
True enough, veneers are pretty durable. They’re made from high-quality porcelain or ceramic. Even so, some foods and drinks don’t mix well with these prosthetics.

For one thing, it’s not a good idea for veneered teeth to chew hard or sticky stuff. Tough surfaces could chip or crack the shells, while gooey substances could get lodged around or beneath them. Therefore, it’s best not to eat tough or chewy candies, ice cubes, or especially raw fruits and veggies.

At the same time, acidic or dark-colored drinks should also be limited. These beverages can stain veneers if consumed in excess. So, don’t ...
... have too much coffee or red wine – their acids and tannins could make your treatment darker.

You’re Better Off with Soft, Light Meals
To ensure your veneers stay safe, you’ll want to eat a diet of soft, light-colored items. These things are friendly to the prosthetics and won’t cause any harm.

For example, consider soft foods. Those like pasta, rice, eggs, and mashed fruits or vegetables don’t chip veneers. Mushy starches cling to teeth, though, so you’d have to brush and floss after eating them.

Clear or light-colored beverages are good too. Water is already a healthy choice, but it also doesn’t stain veneers. Light sodas and wines don’t discolor teeth, either. Still, know that these latter drinks are sugary and acidic.

Other Ways to Care for Veneers
Of course, veneers should prompt you to make other changes too. To care for them well, consider the following tips:

• Practice Good Oral Hygiene – If you don’t clean them, veneers can accumulate bacteria and plaque. Keep that from happening by brushing them twice daily, flossing between them once daily, and rinsing them with mouthwash.
• Avoid Bad Oral Habits – Just as hard foods may chip veneers, biting your nails or grinding your teeth can too. If possible, then, refrain from these habits.
• See Your Dentist Often – Regular, six-month dental visits help preserve your veneers. At these appointments, a dentist can examine the shells, perform necessary cleaning, and correct relevant dental issues.
Porcelain veneers aren’t invincible. With that said, eat a treatment-friendly diet and consult your local practice so they stick around for a while.