It’s natural to want to hide imperfections in your smile, but if you’re overly afraid of being judged for dental flaws, you might develop anxiety or depression. You might even avoid spending time with others, which can detract from your daily quality of life.
Thankfully, your dentist can address one or several aesthetic concerns with veneers to upgrade your grin. However, many patients want to know whether this cosmetic enhancement requires dietary restrictions. Continue reading to learn more about how this popular service can potentially impact your food choices!
What Are Veneers?
Veneers are thin shells that are usually made from resilient ceramic and are attached to the front surfaces of your enamel to mask imperfections. The durable material can be customized to match your enamel for beautiful, lifelike results.
This versatile treatment can conceal one or multiple issues, such as chips or cracks, stubborn stains that can’t be brushed away, or mild gaps and dental misalignments that detract from your appearance.
For them to fit correctly, your dentist must remove a small amount of enamel, which doesn’t regenerate. This can increase your vulnerability to decay, damage, and disease, so you’ll need to have these restorations, or some other protection, in place moving forward to safeguard your smile.
Can My Diet Impact My Veneers?
It often takes the dental lab a couple of weeks to deliver your finished veneers to your dentist to cement them in place, so your provider will likely place a temporary set to protect your teeth while you wait. These aren’t intended to last long, so you must care for them carefully to avoid harming them, including watching what you eat.
Fortunately, your permanent veneers are much more resilient, but you must still make conscientious dietary decisions. These covers can resist a certain amount of chips, cracks, and stains, but they’re not invincible. Repeated and frequent exposure can eventually do damage or leave them looking worse for wear.
What Foods Should I Avoid with Veneers?
It’s important to choose foods carefully to avoid hurting your restorations. For example, overly hard and crunchy foods can chip and crack them, or push them out of place. Meanwhile, sticky and chewy options, like gummies or taffy, might yank them from your enamel.
You can help maintain your recent cosmetic enhancement by avoiding the following options:
- Tough meats that can be hard to bite into.
- Toasted or crunchy bread and rolls.
- Raw fruits and veggies.
- Hard snacks, like popcorn, nuts, or seeds.
- Cruncy or chewy candy and sweets.
- Darkly tinted foods like coffee, tea, berries, and tomatoes.
If you have additional questions about what life is like with veneers, the best way to get accurate information is to consult your dentist directly!
Meet the Author
Dr. David Fisher, Jr. has 20 years of experience helping families in Greensboro build beautiful, healthy smiles they can feel proud of. He earned his dental degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is committed to continuing education so he can offer the most current treatment options using state-of-the-art technology. He provides a comprehensive menu of services, including veneers, to meet all your needs under one roof. You can request an appointment on the website or by calling (336) 288-1242.