Your new veneers were designed to deliver a healthy, beautiful smile for up to two decades or more, but only if you take proper care of them! Although your restorations were designed to withstand a full diet, there are still a few precautions you should take to ensure they last as long as possible. Here’s a closer look at some dietary swaps you can make to keep them looking and feeling their best for years to come!
Dining With Temporary Veneers
When you first begin veneers treatment, your dentist will need to remove some enamel to accommodate your prosthetics. However, your actual restorations won’t be ready for a few weeks, as they still must be crafted at the dental lab. While you wait, you’ll be fitted with temporary veneers that will protect your teeth until the real ones are ready. However, they won’t be quite as strong, durable, or stain resistant as the real ones will be once placed. Thus, you will need to make some temporary changes to your diet to keep them looking and feeling their best until they’re swapped out with the permanent prosthetics. Here are a few foods you should avoid with temporary veneers:
- Any food or beverage with dark tannins such as red wine, coffee, tea, cola, curries, marinara or anything else that would stain a white t-shirt, as temporary veneers are easier to stain than real ones.
- Tougher-textured proteins such as pork or steak.
- Crunchy, crusty, or toasted bread.
- Crispy or crunchy fresh fruits and veggies, hard candies, popcorn, nuts, and ice cubes.
- Gummies, gum, taffy, caramel, or any other sticky or chewy candy.
Thankfully, you should be able to reintroduce these items to your diet after your permanent veneers are placed, however it is still important to exercise good judgement and avoid things that could damage your restorations such as crunching on ice cubes or biting your nails. Here are a few items that are safe for temporary and permanent restorations:
- Pasta.
- Soft breads, muffins, or cakes.
- Eggs prepared any way you’d like.
- Chicken, fish, or softened meats.
- Mashed potatoes.
- Tunafish or other canned meat.
- Yogurt, pudding, and ice cream.
- Applesauce, hummus, or nut butter.
- Avocadoes.
What to Eat When Your Treatment is Complete
Following the placement of your permanent veneers, you can begin eating tougher-textured foods again, but be sure to follow these tips and tricks to keep your smile looking and feeling its best:
- Your veneers are naturally stain resistant but they’re not stain proof. If you do decide to indulge in dark foods and beverages, be sure to brush and floss when you’re done!
- Although your veneers are durable, be careful when eating hard foods like nuts and hard candies, and watch out for popcorn kernels and hulls.
- Alcohol is safe in moderation; however, in excess it can erode the cement holding your veneers in place, so be sure to alternate your beverage with sips of water.
- Don’t smoke, vape, or chew tobacco, as this can stain your veneers and dry out your periodontal tissue, increasing your risk of gum disease.
Caring for Your New Smile
While slight alterations to your diet can help make your veneers last longer, it’s important to take care of them even when you’re not eating by brushing twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste, flossing once a day, and visiting your dentist every six months for your regular exams and cleanings.
Remember, while you may need to temporarily cut back on some of your favorite foods, the good news is that with proper care of your beautiful, durable new veneers, you could have a gorgeous, glowing, healthy grin for years to come!
About Dr. Verjee
Dr. Sarfraz Verjee earned his undergraduate degree from McGill University and McMaster University, and his dental degree from the NYU College of Dentistry. He stays current on his dental education and skills by taking regular continuing education courses, and by helping improve the smiles of patients just like you! To learn more about how veneers can transform your smile from good to gorgeous, schedule a consultation for cosmetic dentistry at Magic Touch Dental of Pasadena by visiting our website or calling 713-943-9993.