If you have visited a cosmetic dentist to improve the look of your smile, you’ll want to be sure to take the best possible care of your dental work. Treatments like teeth whitening, cosmetic veneers, and cosmetic crowns will last longer if you take certain precautions. With proper care, cosmetic work can last many years, ensuring your smile remains bright and beautiful.
Caring for Teeth with Veneers or Crowns
If you’ve had porcelain veneers or crowns placed as part of your cosmetic treatment, you should take some precautions to be sure they last as long as possible. Porcelain is very durable, but it can be chipped or broken. To keep from damaging it, be sure to:
- Brush with a soft to medium toothbrush
- Avoid biting hard objects or chewing hard candies or ice
- Let your dental hygienist know you have veneers
- Avoid foods or beverages that could cause discoloration
Prosthetic teeth, such as those used in bridges, and dental implants should also be treated with care to avoid chipping or breaking. These are usually made of porcelain or of tooth-colored resin. Other cosmetic work, such as inlays and onlays or tooth-colored fillings or crowns, are made of similar resins. You should take similar precautions if you’ve had these types of work done. If you notice damage to your cosmetic work, see your cosmetic dentist as soon as possible to have it repaired.
Caring for Teeth after Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is one of the most common types of cosmetic dentistry treatment. Whitening can make a huge difference in the look of your smile, but if you don’t establish habits that will keep your teeth white, they’ll become stained again and require more treatment. Whitening treatments should last several months, and if you take care not to further stain your teeth, you can have a touch-up treatment from time to time to maintain your white smile.
In addition, be sure to keep up with your regular, everyday oral hygiene and visit your dentist regularly to keep your teeth healthy and prevent any decay from developing that could ruin your new smile.
Call us at the office of Dr. Daggula to schedule an appointment with our caring staff today to evaluate how we can help your smile.
