Porcelain veneers can be an excellent way to reshape your smile into a more ideal form, but your dietary choices can affect their appearance and how long they can last. Unlike your natural teeth, porcelain veneers have no way to repair themselves if they get damaged, so using them properly is important for keeping them in good shape. Here’s what you should know about eating with porcelain veneers.
What Foods Should I Be Careful of After Getting Veneers?
Porcelain veneers do not require their owner to avoid any particular foods. However, while veneers are incredibly durable, some foods can still erode the bonding agent holding them on the teeth. These include:
- Foods and beverages with a high acid content: Be careful of items like citrus, sodas, and sports drinks. Continued exposure to acid will slowly but surely erode the bonding agent, shortening the lifespan of your veneers.
- Hard foods: Just like with your natural teeth, you should never chew ice with veneers. You should also avoid chewing on hard candies like jawbreakers or butterscotch disks. It can also be a good idea to slice harder fruits and vegetables such as carrots and apples into small pieces. You should also take care when eating meat to avoid any bones.
- Alcohol: Beverages or mouthwash containing alcohol can erode the bonding agent.
- Crusty breads: Biting into tougher breads like breadsticks or toast can damage your veneers.
- Sticky candy: Taffy, caramel, and other chewy, sticky sweetmeats can get stuck in your veneers. This can lead to accidental damage when trying to clean them.
- Dark and pigmented foods and liquids: Liquids high in pigment or dyes can discolor your natural teeth surface and bonding agents while leaving your veneers with their original hue. This can lead to an uneven color in your smile. Foods and beverages to be careful of include red wine, coffee, tea, sports drinks, and berries.
What Foods Can I Eat with Veneers?
While the foods listed above can be harmful if consumed excessively or improperly, veneers allow you to eat anything you want in moderation. Rather than tearing bites off of tougher food with your front teeth, you should try cutting it into smaller pieces. Biting into softer foods, however, requires no such precautions. While food can get stuck in veneers, they only require the same hygiene and maintenance as natural teeth. This means a daily routine of brushing, flossing, and using antibacterial mouthwash.
Veneers are extremely durable and versatile. With a little care about what you eat and how you eat it, you can keep them with a dazzling appearance for up to twenty years.
About the Author
Dr. Jennifer Pham earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine in 2010 at Temple University School of Dentistry, where she attended rotations at Albert Einstein Medical Center, Episcopal Hospital, and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. Her office in Leesburg, VA offers general, pediatric, emergency, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry including porcelain veneer treatments. For more information on keeping your veneers in good condition, contact her office online or dial (703) 666-3867.