What are the best ways to maintain your veneers or crowns for long-term beauty and oral health? Here, we provide practical tips to help you keep your dental restorations looking as good as possible for as long as possible.

Practice Good Oral Hygiene

Just as with your regular teeth, the foundation of maintaining any dental restoration is a proper oral hygiene routine [1]. Regular brushing and flossing are crucial in preventing plaque build-up and keeping your crowns and veneers looking great. Make sure to:

• Brush twice daily. Use a non-abrasive, fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently clean your teeth without scratching the surface of your veneers or crowns.

• Floss once a day. Flossing helps remove food particles and plaque between your teeth to protect your veneers or crowns and keep your breath fresh.

Mind Your Diet

Certain foods can damage your veneers or crowns, affecting their appearance and function over time. Being mindful of what you consume can prevent unnecessary wear and tear. Foods like hard or sticky candy, nuts, and ice can chip or crack your veneers or crowns.

It’s best to limit these foods if you can, and never chew on ice—chewing on ice can damage both your natural teeth and your crowns or veneers [2].

Protect Your Teeth

Preserving your smile involves more than just cleaning—it also requires protecting your teeth from physical damage. If you engage in contact sports or suffer from teeth grinding (bruxism), a custom mouthguard can protect your veneers or crowns from potential harm.

It’s also important to avoid using your teeth to open packages or bottles, as this can put excessive pressure on both your natural teeth and any dental restorations, potentially causing chips and fractures.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

Routine visits to your dentist are essential for keeping both your natural teeth and your dental crowns or veneers healthy. Professional cleanings and evaluations are associated with better oral health, especially over the long term [3].

Regular checkups allow your dentist to detect any early signs of trouble, such as loose veneers or crowns, or gum disease. If you notice any discomfort or changes in the way your veneers or crowns fit, contact your dentist immediately to address the issue before it worsens.

Protect Your Crowns and Veneers

By following these tips, you can maintain the longevity and beauty of your dental veneers or crowns. See your dentist every six months for personalized advice and care tailored to your needs. With proper care and regular professional maintenance, your veneers or crowns can provide you with a beautiful, confident smile for many years to come!

Sources:

1. https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/home-care
2. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/nutrition/9-foods-that-damage-your-teeth
3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2821461/ 

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People choose to professionally whiten their teeth when their teeth have accrued stains over time that a regular cleaning at the dentist office or home care habits won’t remove. Some patients may have tried take-home teeth whitening kits with mediocre results.

If you’re considering a teeth whitening procedure or have just gotten one done, you may be wondering just how long a professional teeth whitening lasts. Here’s what you should know when professionally whitening your smile!

How Long You Can Expect a Professional Whitening to Last

You can expect a professional teeth whitening to last for about two years up to ten years. It’s important to remember that the results will vary from person to person.

For example, people who neglect to take care of their teeth and consume heavy-staining foods and drinks can see their professional whitening fade in as little as a few weeks [1]. However, people who take care of their smiles can see their results last for years.

Lifestyle Habits That Can Prematurely Stain Your Smile

People who drink coffee, wine, or tea are more at risk to see their dazzling smile become dull and stained faster than those who don’t [2]. Foods that can stain your newly white smile can include tomatoes, berries, soy sauce, and potent spices such as turmeric.

In addition, people who smoke will see their white teeth rapidly deteriorate compared to those who don’t smoke or use tobacco products.

People who don’t visit their dentist will also see their smile prematurely stain. Your dentist
removes surface stains during your teeth cleaning to keep your smile white. When you neglect to visit the dentist, even the best home care habits can’t keep a smile white forever.

What Can You Do to Extend the Life of Your Bright Smile?

Just because you’ve gotten a professional teeth whitening doesn’t mean your teeth are now immune to stains. In fact, it’s more important to protect your smile now than before your whitening procedure to prolong the results!

Of course, avoiding all the foods and drinks that can stain your teeth is often out of the
question. So what can you do to prolong your professional teeth whitening?

First, visit your dentist for regular cleanings at least once a year but preferably every six months [3]. Your dentist will remove stains and can make touch-ups to keep your smile white over time. You can also drink water while consuming teeth-staining foods and drinks.

For example, when sipping a glass of wine, sip water too. When enjoying pasta with sauce, drink water with your meal. This will not only keep you hydrated—which is important for your smile also—but will help minimize tooth staining.

Although a professional teeth whitening doesn’t last forever, it can last a very long time with the right care. Ask your dentist how you can better care for your teeth after a whitening procedure and if whitening your teeth can help remove stains for a brighter you!

Sources:
1. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/teeth-whitening/faqs
2. https://www.ada.org/sitecore/content/home-mouthhealthy/nutrition/food-tips/9-foods-that-damage-your-teeth
3. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/dental-care-concerns/questions-about-going-to-
the-dentist

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Tooth reshaping may be the right choice for people who want to subtly alter the appearance of their teeth but don’t need dramatic cosmetic work done. Here’s how dental contouring may be able to help you and what you can expect during your appointment.

Issues Dental Contouring Can Fix

Dental contouring is considered to be a cosmetic procedure, meaning it won’t be able to fix any major issues with your teeth. However, dental contouring can fix several cosmetic issues with your smile, including:

 Pointy or irregularly shaped teeth
 Visible chips in the teeth
 Teeth that overlap
 Uneven length of neighboring teeth

Tooth reshaping procedures are most often done on the upper front teeth such as your central incisors, lateral incisors, and sometimes the canines, as these teeth are seen the most when you smile.

How Dental Contouring Is Done

During your consultation for dental contouring, your dentist will want to take x-rays to evaluate your oral health to determine if tooth reshaping is the right procedure for you.

Tooth reshaping is used to fix smaller imperfections in the smile, so if you’re looking for more extensive work or dramatic results, this procedure might not be your best choice.

If you and your dentist decide to move forward with the procedure, you’ll discuss what teeth you want reshaped and why. During your actual appointment for dental contouring, your dentist will use tools to remove a small amount of tooth enamel to subtly change the shape, length, or appearance of one or more of your teeth.

The amount of enamel removed during this procedure is tiny, but even this miniscule amount can make a difference in the appearance of your teeth. Your dentist may also combine the procedure with tooth bonding, which uses a tooth-colored composite resin to correct imperfections.

Finally, your dentist will polish the teeth so that everything looks uniform and normal for your new and improved smile!

Benefits of Tooth Reshaping

One of the best benefits of tooth reshaping is that the procedure is relatively quick and provides instantaneous results. You’ll be able to go home that same day and enjoy your new smile!

Another benefit of tooth reshaping is that it’s a painless procedure that doesn’t require anesthesia. As there aren’t any sensory nerves in your tooth enamel, you won’t feel any pain with the tiny amount of enamel that your dentist removes.

Dental contouring is considered to be a safe procedure that can solve numerous cosmetic issues with your smile that’s cost effective compared to other treatments!

Dental contouring provides an effective, fast solution for people who want minor things changed about their smile. You and your dentist can discuss if this procedure would be the best solution to make changes in your teeth to create a flawless smile. Contact your oral healthcare professional today to ask about dental contouring!

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What should you expect during your Zoom! whitening procedure? This laser teeth whitening at
your dentist’s office is relatively quick and simple, making whiter teeth possible in just one
appointment. Here’s what you need to know when it comes to Zoom! teeth whitening.

Before the Procedure

In order to prepare for your Zoom! teeth whitening, most dentists suggest getting a
professional dental cleaning beforehand. Getting your teeth professionally cleaned can help
remove surface stains and enhance the effectiveness and intensity of your teeth whitening.

During your cleaning, you and your dentist can also discuss the shade of white you’d like for
your upcoming whitening procedure. From movie-star white to a subtle but noticeable
difference, your dentist can customize your Zoom! teeth whitening to ensure your smile looks
just how you imagined.

During Your Zoom! Teeth Whitening

Zoom! teeth whitening is an in-office procedure that takes approximately one hour to
complete. The actual time may range from 45 minutes to just a little over one hour.

Before the actual whitening process begins, your dentist will make every effort to protect your
gums from the whitening agent; this means painting a protective material over your gums while
leaving your teeth exposed and ready to be whitened.

Then, the Zoom! teeth whitening material is applied on your teeth and you wear a special pair
of sunglasses to protect your eyes from the laser. Then, the laser is set on your teeth for about
three to four 15-minute sessions.

During this time, you may experience small sensations of sensitivity; these are temporary and
your dentist may apply a fluoride treatment immediately after the procedure to protect against
tooth sensitivity immediately following the procedure.

Immediately Following Your Appointment

Once your whitening process is complete, your mouth will be rinsed out and you can see your
beautiful new smile. Your dentist will also provide you with supplemental take-home trays of
the Zoom! whitening agent to help prolong the beautiful shade of white as time goes on.

In addition, your dentist will advise you to avoid certain foods and drinks for approximately two
days following the procedure—these typically include drinks such as red wine or cola and foods
such as chocolate and tomato sauce. Also, no smoking!

To keep your teeth as white as possible for as long as possible, it’s imperative to keep up with
your oral hygiene, which includes visiting your dentist for checkups. You can protect your
investment in your white teeth with regular professional cleanings in addition to at-home care.

Zoom! professional teeth whitening allows patients to have a bright white smile in as little as 45
minutes at your local dentist’s office. When you want white teeth without the hassle of take-
home options, ask your dentist about Zoom! teeth whitening!

The post What to Expect During Your Zoom! Teeth Whitening Procedure appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Meanwhile, Lumineers are made of a patented form of ceramic and offer an even thinner
option for restoring your smile. So which one should you choose? Here are the fundamental
differences between these cosmetic treatments and why some patients would favor one over
the other.

The Difference Between Lumineers and Traditional Veneers

Lumineers provide many of the same benefits as traditional veneers. They’re strong, thin, and
transform your smile. However, Lumineers offer a difference that porcelain veneers can’t
provide—in many cases, no tooth preparation is necessary.

In traditional porcelain veneers, a bit of tooth enamel needs to be removed in order for the
veneer to bond properly to the surface of the teeth. Many patients would prefer to skip this
step to avoid the removal of some of their tooth enamel, even if it is only a tiny amount.

Lumineers allow patients to keep more of their natural tooth structure and tend to be less
translucent than porcelain veneers, which can look slightly less translucent but provide a robust
shade of white that’s resistant to stains.

Why Lumineers Appeal to Some Patients

Lumineers appeal to many patients for a few reasons, the first being the ability to forgo tooth
preparation and keep more of their tooth structure.

Another reason is that the procedure has the possibility to be reversed without permanently
damaging your natural teeth. With porcelain veneers, the removal of tooth enamel is
irreversible and so these are considered a permanent form of treatment.

However, since Lumineers allow the patient to keep their natural teeth the way they are, they
tend to not fit as snugly against the natural teeth as porcelain veneers do. This means they may
protrude slightly, which can make the lips appear fuller (which some patients like).

Making the Best Choice for Your Smile

Both porcelain veneers and Lumineers are custom-made, meaning that your dentist will help
you decide on the best size, shape, and color for your smile. Your restored smile should always
suit your preferences and provide you with confidence and functionality.

Lumineers and porcelain veneers can provide very similar results, but the choice you make will
be based on your unique smile and what you’d like the end result to be. Your dentist can help
you make the best choice for you by discussing the pros and cons of using each in regards to
what you want to accomplish with your smile.

If you want to change the appearance of your smile, considering either Lumineers or porcelain
veneers can help dramatically improve your smile without the need for teeth whitening,
orthodontics, or even tooth bonding. Schedule a consultation with your dentist to ask how one
of these cosmetic treatments can improve your smile!

The post Are Lumineers or Porcelain Veneers the Better Choice for Your Smile? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Here are the two different types of Invisalign retainers:

Clear Retainers – These retainers are molded from clear plastic which fits over your teeth. These retainers are more discreet and less noticeable which makes them a popular choice for adults.

Acrylic Retainers – These are the most common types of retainers out there.

Here are 5 tips on taking care of invisalign retainers:

1. Clean Your Invisalign Retainers

Your retainers are going to end up accumulating a lot of food debris, bacteria and plaque which makes it
all the more important for you to keep it clean.

If you have acrylic retainers then make sure that you rinse them out a couple of times every day with
lukewarm water to remove any build-up of bacteria. Ensure that you disinfect your retainer on a weekly
basis by leaving it to soak in a body of distilled water with a little drop of castile soap or baking soda.

You can also make a paste with equal quantities of baking soda and water to scrub your appliance clean.
After which you can gently clean your aligner with it and your toothbrush and then rinse it out with
lukewarm water. Do not put your aligners into boiling water or use harsh chemicals.

2. Protect Your Retainers from Heat

Your Invisalign retainers are composed of plastic so it is hardly surprising that they are likely to become distorted under extreme heat. Always clean your aligners with lukewarm water to prevent your
retainers from losing their fit and becoming distorted. If you happen to leave your retainers exposed to
heat unintentionally then it is best to contact your dentist to ensure that they fit properly.

3. Avoid Soaking Your Retainers in Mouthwash

Soaking your retainer may sound like a good idea to get rid of any odor but it should be avoided at all
costs as mouthwash has a pigment that your retainer will end up absorbing which will make your teeth
appear to be a different color.

4. Watch What You Drink

Be careful about what beverages you consume with your retainers on and how it affects your dental
health. Continue maintaining good oral health by carrying your aligner case with you so you can store
your retainer in it when you drink any beverages.

5. Clean Your Invisalign Retainers Before Placing Them in their Case

Clean your old retainers and store them in their case when you are moving on to another set of
retainers in case you require them later. Storing your retainer properly and in a clean manner ensures
that they stay clean and ready for use.

Invisalign retainers are a great way to improve your smile in a very discreet and almost invisible manner.

Follow your orthodontist’s instructions and stay committed to keeping your retainers clean and
maintaining good dental health.

The post 5 Tips to Caring For Your Invisalign Retainers appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Discoloration of teeth can happen gradually over time, but some foods are known to accelerate
the process. These include healthy foods as well as foods that aren’t traditionally considered
healthy.

Any food that has a strong color has the potential to discolor your teeth, so keep an eye out for
the following foods that could be just as bad as coffee when it comes to staining your smile!

1. Berries

Berries are very healthy for you—they contain a powerful punch of antioxidants,
phytonutrients, and vitamin C that can help promote gum health. However, berries such as
blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, and raspberries all have the potential to discolor your
smile.

Unfortunately, this also includes juice made from berries too. Juice consumption should be
minimized because of its high sugar content, but what can you do when you want to enjoy
some healthy berries?

Your best bet is to rinse your mouth with water after consuming berries or sip water while
you’re eating them. This will help reduce the chances of staining until you can safely brush your
teeth—at least 30 minutes after you eat.

2. Sauces

Although not exactly considered a health food, there are numerous types of popular sauces
that can work to stain your teeth. These sauces include:

 Tomato sauce
 Soy sauce
 Curry sauces
 Ketchup
 Sauces or dressings made with balsamic vinegar

Tomatoes have a strong color that can stain teeth, especially if you’re a pasta lover! Soy sauce
has a dark color, as does balsamic vinegar, that can work to discolor teeth. While curry is full of
many beneficial spices, including turmeric, it has a deep yellow color that can quickly stain
teeth.

Not to worry, as most of the staining is temporary, but it can build up over time, especially if
you’re skipping regular cleanings or not brushing your teeth!

3. Beets

Beets, like berries, are very beneficial for your body as well as your smile. They contain vitamin
C, can help fight inflammation with their phytonutrients, and can even help detoxify the body.
Unfortunately, beet juice and the beets themselves can cause discoloration to your teeth on
account of their dark red, almost purplish color. This is especially true if you’re beet fan and eat
beets regularly.

There’s no need to stop eating beets just because they can affect the color of your teeth. In
addition to employing the water trick, you can also try golden beets or striped beets—their
color isn’t as potent as red beets, but you’ll still get most of the same health benefits!

Teeth staining can be minimized by brushing and flossing your teeth every day in addition to
drinking enough water. Of course, regular dental checkups can help remove surface stains at
regular intervals in order to reduce staining and keep your smile bright. For an even brighter
smile, ask your local dentist about a professional whitening to effectively remove deeper stains
and keep your smile beautiful!

The post 3 Surprising Foods That Promote Tooth Discoloration appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.