There’s no better way to quickly and drastically improve your appearance than by fixing cosmetic dentistry issues with porcelain veneers. While you could treat crowding, gaps, and other misalignment issues with orthodontic braces, you’d be stuck wearing them for up to two years, dealing with the hassle and embarrassment day in and day out. Veneers provide a much faster solution, giving you the perfect, radiant smile you crave in no time at all and boosting your confidence in the process.

Of course, you have to take care of your veneers if you want them to last. Just as you have to clean and maintain your natural teeth in order to keep them bright and beautiful, you must also take steps to ensure that your porcelain veneers continue to enhance your smile for years to come. Otherwise you could start to see plaque and tartar buildup, staining, and other unsightly deterioration.

With proper care, your veneers can last 10 years or more and continue to look just as good as the day you got them. Here are just a few tips to help you clean and maintain your veneers in order to enjoy the greatest longevity.

1. Maintain proper oral hygiene

If you already brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash after every meal, or at least twice daily, you’re on the right track to keep your dentures clean and well maintained. However, you may need some pointers from your dentist to ensure that you treat your porcelain veneers with proper care.

The biggest problem many people face is learning how to brush and floss with veneers. If you tend to be somewhat aggressive when it comes to cleaning your teeth, you could end up damaging veneers by causing chips or cracks. When veneers have been applied, your dentist can give you a tutorial on how to properly brush and floss around your new dental hardware.

2. Switch up your toothpaste

In addition to changing your techniques when it comes to dental hygiene, you might want to consider switching your toothpaste after veneers are applied. The reason is because porcelain can be damaged by abrasive substances, including gritty toothpastes meant to polish away surface stains on teeth.

When your dentist chooses veneers, he/she will carefully match them to surrounding teeth so they blend seamlessly with your smile (which is why many patients undergo whitening before getting veneers). A whitening toothpaste can help to prevent your natural teeth from staining and looking different from your veneers over time. It could also help to prevent surface staining on veneers.

3. Avoid potentially harmful foods

All kinds of foods could end up being harmful to your veneers, as well as your natural teeth. For example, chewing on ice or hard candy could be equally damaging to both, causing unsightly chips and cracks.

On the upside, foods that are known to stain natural teeth, such as coffee, tea, wine, blueberries, and food dyes, just for example, should not adversely affect your veneers. The only problem is that they can stain natural teeth next to veneers, causing a noticeable color difference over time, and you probably want to avoid this.

4. Kick bad habits

You know that using tobacco products is bad for your health in general, but it can be particularly harmful to your oral health. In addition to the many dangers cigarettes and other tobacco products pose for your health, however, they can also cause damage to natural teeth and veneers due to yellow staining. If you want to protect the appearance of pearly veneers and avoid potential health concerns, kicking tobacco is a good plan.

5. Visit your dentist regularly

You have a lot of power to preserve your veneers, as well as your natural teeth and your oral health in general. With proper oral hygiene and awareness of how different substances can damage veneers, you can take strides to keep your smile looking fantastic for years.

That said, you still need to see your dentist regularly for cleaning and examination. Even though veneers won’t suffer the same types of deterioration and decay as teeth, you still need to maintain healthy teeth and gums to support long-lasting veneers. Dental professionals not only preserve your natural smile and additions like crowns and veneers, but they can help you determine when you’re ready for replacement products.