Cosmetic dentistry is an investment in how you look — and it’s also an investment in how you feel. If you want to reap those benefits for as long as possible, it’s important to take a few extra steps to protect your beautiful smile.
As a top-rated cosmetic dentistry practice, Dr. Taylor’s Family Dental Center helps patients achieve their aesthetic goals and maintain them for as long as possible. Here, learn five steps you can take to help your smile look its best for years to come.
Good brushing and flossing habits are important for protecting your natural teeth — and when it comes to maintaining the results of your cosmetic treatments, these habits are just as essential.
Plaque buildup around veneers, crowns, or bonding can irritate the surrounding gum tissue, leading to cavities in the tooth, which supports the restoration. Built-up plaque and bacteria increase your risk of gum disease. Both of these problems compromise the underlying tooth structure, meaning your restorations are far more likely to fail.
To reduce these risks, brush your teeth twice a day using a nonabrasive toothpaste to keep teeth and restorations clean without damaging the surfaces. Floss once a day to remove sticky plaque, food particles, and bacteria that can dramatically increase your risk of gum disease and tooth loss.
Chewing on hard foods, such as hard candy, hard nuts, or ice, can lead to chips and cracks in your natural teeth, and it can take a toll on restorations. These hard foods can quickly crack or break veneers or crowns, leading to restoration failure (and sometimes tooth damage, too).
Sticky foods aren’t much better. Chewing very sticky foods, like taffy or caramels, creates a vacuum that tugs and pulls at restorations, weakening them over time.
Finally, foods with deep pigments can leave stains on restorations. Red wine, coffee, and deeply-colored berries and spices are all potential culprits. Rather than avoiding these foods and drinks entirely, take the time to rinse your mouth with warm water after consuming them to wash away pigments and preserve your beautiful smile.
Roughly a quarter of people grind or clench their teeth regularly, a chronic condition called bruxism. Many of us grind and clench while we sleep, making this a tough problem to overcome without a little help from our team.
While bruxism may not seem like a big deal, over time, the added pressure from this habit can weaken tooth roots and even lead to premature wear and damage to your restorations, as well as your natural teeth.
Fortunately, you can avoid the damage associated with nighttime grinding and clenching by wearing a custom nightguard. Similar to a mouth guard worn during sports, a nightguard protects your teeth and restorations by absorbing added pressure caused by grinding and clenching.
Routine dental visits play a role in maintaining cosmetic dentistry. During checkups, we evaluate the condition of your restorations, check for early signs of wear, and ensure your gums stay healthy. Catching small issues early is key to preventing more significant problems in the future.
Professional cleanings are also important; they remove plaque and tartar that brushing alone can’t reach. During your visit, we use tools and techniques that are safe for your restorations, helping keep your smile clean and beautiful without damaging its appearance.
Chewing hard or sticky food isn’t the only habit you need to keep an eye on. Using your teeth to open packages, bite tags, or crack objects may seem harmless, but it can quickly damage cosmetic dental work.
It’s true, veneers and bonding are strong — but they don’t withstand that kind of force. Over time, these seemingly insignificant habits increase the risk of chips or fractures.
It’s also important to limit or — ideally — quit smoking. Smoking dulls your smile and leads to yellowing, even on restoration surfaces. Plus, smoking damages your oral health in other ways, increasing your risk of tooth loss in the future.
Cosmetic dentistry can dramatically enhance your appearance and your confidence. To find out how cosmetic treatments can help you achieve your aesthetic goals — and what else you can do to maintain your results — call 248-681-8100 or request an appointment online at Dr. Taylor’s Family Dental Center in Waterford, Michigan, today.
