What Foods and Drinks Should Be Avoided With Veneers?
One of the best ways to correct dental imperfections is to get dental veneers near you. The tooth restoration option works wonders for those suffering from minor cosmetic problems. Tooth stains, cracks, chips, and wide tooth gaps are common dental imperfections we can correct through veneer restoration. But just like other cosmetic dental procedures, veneer placement requires a bit of discipline and good dental hygiene to keep them looking attractive for an extended period. And what better way to start than to watch your diet? We will list the food to keep your veneers in good shape for an extended period.
Food and Drinks to Avoid With Veneers
Crunchy and Hard Food
You have probably heard people saying that hard and crunchy food makes your teeth stronger. However, this is not the case with veneers. Unlike natural teeth, which can withstand a lot of pressure, veneers are thin shells made from materials that are a bit more fragile than natural teeth. Therefore, if you have dental veneers fitted, avoid eating any food that requires a lot of pressure to break down.
Examples of foods that you shouldn’t bite on with your veneers are carrots, corn, apples, hard candy, and crisps. Since fruits and vegetables are good for your body, you should not cut them off completely. Instead, you can blend, cook or cut them into small pieces before consuming them, so they become softer and easier to chew.
Tough and Chewy Food
Foods that are difficult to chew can be bad for your veneers. For example, chewy food like tough meat can take longer to chew even with natural teeth and keep getting lodged between your teeth and along the gum line. This can cause your veneers to wear faster and also cause discomfort. Thick crusted bread, dried fruits, jerky, and sticky candy can also loosen your dental veneers, forcing you to have them repaired or replaced.
Acidic and Dark Colored Foods and Beverages
Composite resin, commonly used for making dental veneers, is prone to staining. Unfortunately, unlike natural teeth, using traditional teeth whitening products for whitening dental veneers is unsafe. For this reason, you need to protect your veneers from stains by avoiding dark-colored food and beverages.
Examples of foods and beverages to stay away from include tea, coffee, soft drinks, tomatoes, citric fruits, and red wine. The acidity of some of the foods we listed can also discolor your natural teeth and veneers. If you consume any of these foods or beverages, rinse your mouth or brush a few minutes after you are done to reduce the chances of your veneers getting stains.
Alcoholic Beverages
Studies show that too much consumption of alcohol can lead to reduced saliva production, which raises the risks of developing tooth decay, infection, and oral cancer. In the case of dental veneers, alcohol can weaken the adhesive material that holds the veneers in place. Therefore, it would be best if you reduced or completely cut off your intake of alcoholic beverages. In addition, avoid using alcohol-based mouth cleaning products such as mouth rinses, as they can weaken the adhesive material used for veneer bonding.
Other Things to Cut Off
Apart from watching your daily diet, there are still other things in your life that you will need to reduce or quit entirely as they can damage your veneers. If you smoke tobacco regularly, you need to stop as soon as possible. Smoking has been found to cause staining of veneers and natural teeth. It is also unhealthy as it can increase your chances of developing lung cancer and other health issues.
Chewing ice cubes and using your teeth or veneers to open bottle tops can cause them to crack or chip. So don’t use them for these functions or other unnecessary things to protect your veneers from damage. In addition, ensure you practice good dental hygiene by brushing your teeth and flossing at least 2 times a day. Finally, go for regular dental checkups and cleanings after getting dental veneers in Los Angeles. Your nearby dentist will keep checking your veneers for signs of damage and your teeth for decay or other dental problems.
Conclusion
Small changes in your diet and lifestyle can make a huge difference in keeping your veneers strong and attractive. So, ensure you avoid all the food and drinks we listed and start making all the necessary lifestyle changes soon after getting dental veneers from a dentist near you. If you still haven’t gotten your dental veneers, visit Rosemarie Quimson-Cruz, DMD, Inc. – Los Angeles, for veneer restoration. We only use the best tooth restoration materials during our dental procedures so your veneers can serve you for an extended period.