Your dentist will have gone through a meticulous procedure to get your veneers ready for you. After that, they probably seem impossible to ever soil again! However, it’s not just the visible part of your teeth that needs attention and care. There are several things you need to consider when cleaning your veneers. First, make sure you don’t use regular toothpaste on them, but something more specialized like a fluoride paste or powder with fewer abrasive particles. Also, try rinsing your mouth with water after eating or drinking anything sugary or acidic (like fruit juices). You should also avoid sticky or chewy snacks as much as possible until you get used to having veneers on.
How To Clean Your Teeth Under Veneers
Brush gently and carefully
While your teeth may feel more delicate, you should still be brushing your teeth twice a day with a soft and gentle toothbrush. If you are brushing too firmly, you could damage your veneers and make them come off sooner than you might like. Additionally, you should avoid brushing your teeth too quickly, as you’re more likely to miss places and increase the likelihood of damaging your veneers.
Dry your teeth before brushing
After you’ve brushed your teeth, you should dry them with a clean, soft cloth. Swish your mouth out with water and then spit it out before you dry your teeth. This will prevent them from being stained and discoloured. You can also apply a small amount of toothpaste to the cloth and then wipe your teeth with it as well. This will help your veneers stay clean, and avoid them being stained.
Be wary of food and drinks
Foods like tomatoes and berries could stain your veneers, so it’s best to avoid them until you have gotten used to having veneers on. You should also avoid drinking anything sugary or acidic. This includes things like soda, fruit juices, and even things like coffee. These things may cause your veneers to discolour over time, so it’s best to avoid them.
Don’t use regular toothpaste on veneers
This one is pretty self-explanatory, but it is one of the most common mistakes people make when cleaning their veneers. You should use a fluoridated toothpaste or a fluoride paste or powder to clean your veneers. This will help them stay clean and keep them from being stained.
Floss Carefully
While you might be used to brushing your teeth twice a day, you can’t rely on that to keep your gums and teeth healthy. You should still floss once a day, preferably before you brush your teeth in the morning. Flossing is great for your gums, and it also helps to keep food from getting trapped in between your teeth. However, when you have veneers, you need to be more careful. Make sure you’re not flossing too tightly against your veneers, or you could damage them.
Change That Toothbrush!
You should use a new toothbrush every three months, or sooner if it starts to fray. This will help prevent tooth decay and keep the veneers on your teeth clean and fresh-looking. However, you should replace your toothbrush even sooner if you are one of the many people who get veneers. This is because veneers made of porcelain are softer than teeth, so they are easier to damage with a regular toothbrush. It’s best to use a softer toothbrush when cleaning veneers compared to regular teeth.
Beware of the Foods You Eat
There are a variety of foods that you should avoid if you have veneers. This includes sticky foods like caramel and toffee, salty foods, and even citrus fruits. These foods have a tendency to stick to the veneers, which can make them look stained. You should also avoid drinking any liquids that are extremely hot. This includes coffee and tea, but it’s best to drink water or herbal teas that are not too hot when you have veneers. Veneers are very delicate, so you should be careful when eating to avoid damaging them.
What Is The Best Way To Clean Teeth Under Veneers?
- Use a special toothpaste made especially for veneers
- Use a toothbrush specially designed for veneers. The bristles should be softer and flatter for better handling
- You can also use a soft cloth like the ones used to clean your TV screen to clean between your teeth from the adjacent teeth or from the gum surface around them
- Make sure you brush with enough pressure but not too hard that you risk damaging the enamel of your teeth
- Avoid foods that stain plastic like dark chocolate and red wine, even though they look gorgeous, they are still too hot to be put on plastic
- Even though most people tend to brush too hard against their veneers, it is important to brush carefully enough that you are not leaving any gaps or scratches on them
- If you have a tightened mouth it is best to use a mouth guard whilst brushing
- If you have veneers in the front of your teeth avoid eating and drinking too much, as this may damage your gums and can even lead to gum recession!
- Avoid drinking hot drinks and do not eat anything that will stain your veneers, even if they look attractive, as they still might damage them!
- You can clean between your teeth by using a soft, wet cloth to wipe them with briefly and then drying them off, brushing afterwards to remove any remaining residue.
How Do You Clean Between The Teeth If You Have Veneers?
- Use a piece of thin cotton or a toothbrush specially made for veneers to wipe between your teeth gently. Do not overdo it.
- You can also use something like a soft cloth to gently clean between the teeth with toothpaste or plain water, but do not use anything that is too abrasive as this may damage your veneers
- You can also rinse with a mouthwash specially made for veneers if you have them
- If you have veneers in the front of your teeth try not to eat and drink too much, as this may damage your gums and can even lead to gum recession!
- Avoid drinking hot drinks and do not eat anything that will stain your veneers, even if they look attractive, as they still might damage them!
Summary
Having veneers installed is a major decision, but they can be a great way to improve the look of your teeth. Due to the nature of veneers, you will have to make some changes to your oral hygiene routine. When you have veneers installed, you need to be extra careful about what you eat and how you clean your teeth. You should avoid eating sticky or chewy foods, and you should be careful not to drink overly hot liquids. You should also be careful when flossing your teeth, and you should change your toothbrush every three months.
