Veneers are a fast and powerful means of transforming your smile. They are a great way to improve your appearance and maybe even boost your confidence! Plus, they have the potential to last for many years. Just like anything else, though, they will only live up to that potential if you take good care of them. That might involve making some small adjustments to your eating habits. Let’s explore how getting veneers might impact your diet.
Permanent Veneers Can Handle Most Foods
Once your permanent veneers are bonded, you can breathe a sigh of relief. Modern veneers are made from strong materials like porcelain, which means you can enjoy a wide variety of foods without worry.
However, you should still approach certain foods with care and stick to good habits. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Limit hard foods that could chip your veneers, such as ice.
- Be careful with very sticky foods, as they can tug on the edges of your veneers.
- Try not to use your teeth as tools to open packages or bottles, as this can damage both veneers and natural teeth.
- Try to limit the amount of highly pigmented foods and beverages that you consume.
- Maintain good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly, and schedule routine dental checkups.
In other words, most of the same best practices that apply to natural teeth also hold true for permanent veneers!
Veneers would not force you to make drastic changes to your eating habits. Talk to our Bohemia, Long Island team if you have questions about how you can protect the results of your treatment.
Eating with Temporary Veneers
Temporary veneers act as a protective cover for your teeth while the dental lab creates your permanent set. These are not as strong as permanent veneers, so you will need to treat them with extra care. The last thing you want is for a temporary veneer to break or come loose before your permanent ones are ready! You can still enjoy your meals, but you should choose your food wisely and follow instructions from our dental team.
Here are some practical tips for eating with temporary veneers:
- Choose soft foods that do not require much chewing, such as yogurt, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, and smoothies.
- Avoid hard foods that can crack or dislodge veneers, including raw vegetables, nuts, hard candy, and ice.
- Stay away from sticky foods like caramel, chewing gum, or toffee, as they can pull at your temporary veneers.
- Cut your food into small pieces and use your back teeth for chewing to reduce the stress on your front teeth.
- Do not bite directly into tough or crunchy foods such as apples, crusty bread, or corn on the cob.
- Be cautious with hot or cold foods if you notice sensitivity, and let your dentist know about any discomfort.
Extra note: Lumineers are a special type of veneer that does not require temporary veneers. If you wish to skip this part of the treatment process, ask Dr. Makadia if Lumineers are a good fit for your situation.
Meet the Practice
Dr. Makadia is a highly skilled general and cosmetic dentist with decades of experience. Under his leadership, our team provides veneers, Lumineers, and a range of other services. If you have questions about how we can help you achieve and maintain a beautiful smile, contact Sunrise Dental Service in Bohemia at 631-567-5566.