Coffee and many other foods and drinks contain certain pigments that can discolor your veneers the same way they can discolor your natural teeth. But that's not all that you need to worry about—smoking and using tobacco products can also cause severe discoloration along with a slew of other oral health problems.
Avoid Food & Drinks with Staining Agents: The best way to avoid staining your veneers from coffee or other dark drinks is to avoid them. However, if you don't want to go that far, you can always drink in moderation, or use a straw to minimize exposing your veneers to the liquid.
Your Teeth Can Still Stain with Veneers
Coffee, tea, and cigarettes smoke will continue to stain and darken them. Additionally, tobacco use is a leading cause of gum disease, which can threaten the health of your teeth and veneers.
With proper care, your porcelain veneers will stay pearly white for as long as ten years, and by then, it will be time for the recommend repair or replacement of your veneer.
One of the most basic things you should do to care for your veneers is practice good oral hygiene. This means brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day. You should also use a toothpaste that contains fluoride.
While veneers are often made out of stain-resistant materials, they can be susceptible to staining over time, especially if they are made from composites. Research shows that porcelain veneers do not get discolored or stained easily, but those made from composite resins do.
While veneers are difficult to stain, regular consumption of colored and acidic items can stain them or make them look dull. If a day can't pass without taking coffee, tea, red wine, dark chocolate, soda, and other highly pigmented items, then make sure you brush or rinse your mouth thoroughly afterward.
Very old veneers (ones that were placed decades ago) may not be made out of the same high-quality materials that are in use today. They can begin to look dull with age. If that happens, you should speak to your cosmetic dentist about getting the veneers replaced.
The lifespan of dental veneers depends on whether you have porcelain or composite veneers, and how well you care for them. Porcelain laminate veneers can last from 10 to 12 years. Composite resin veneers need to be replaced sooner, since they last for around 4 to 8 years.
Mild, Non-Abrasive Toothpaste: Opt for a toothpaste that is mild and non-abrasive, such as those formulated for sensitive teeth or gentle cleaning. These toothpastes are typically designed to be gentle on enamel and are less likely to cause damage to veneers.
Use a straw: Although it may seem weird to drink coffee or wine from a straw, it's a good way to reduce contact with the teeth and reduce staining. Brush after drinking coffee or wine: Brushing after drinking coffee or wine is a good way to remove stain-causing coffee and wine remnants from the teeth.
Avoid Rinsing Often With Alcohol-Based Mouthwash
These types of mouthwash stain veneers through the combination of high alcohol concentrations and the dye included in their formulas. Use mouthwashes that are alcohol-free, especially sodium-fluoride mouthwash.
The shine on veneers is created by the glaze put over them. This glaze is critical because creates the shine so the teeth don't look flat or dry. It also gives the veneers their stain-resistant quality.
For natural enamel, whitening toothpaste is great but for veneers, it can actually lead to staining instead of the other way around. When maintained correctly, veneers will have a polished, glossy sheen that, while beautiful, isn't as strong as enamel.
If the color of your porcelain veneers is the only thing you dislike about them, consider these options: You can ask your dentist for a refund. If you want your dentist to replace your veneers, insist on a third set of porcelain veneers in the color of your choice.
Veneers may not be able to be made whiter with treatment, but that doesn't mean you can't make them look better in general. In addition, regular dental visits will maintain your veneers as spotless as possible since professional cleanup can help to eliminate surface stains.
The dental team recommends you have foods such as bananas, chicken, eggs, mashed potatoes, and soft foods like pasta and rice when you have temporary veneers over your teeth.
Veneers do not stain as easily as the natural enamel found on your teeth; however, they can still become yellow or discolored over time. Surface stains can develop after prolonged exposure to highly pigmented drinks such as red wine and dark coffee.
This may not be the news you wanted to hear, but veneers typically don't respond to whitening techniques like whitening gels, baking soda, or even professional whitening. Whether you have porcelain or resin veneers, whitening them won't work.
Although they're coated with a stain-resistant resin, veneers can be damaged and stained by eating certain foods, especially those that wear away this resin. To keep your teeth whiter with veneers, it is best to avoid tea or coffee.