Many people receive dental veneers to fix damaged or misaligned teeth and improve their smiles. Veneers are strong and durable, but they still need regular maintenance and dental care to avoid potential damage and staining.
If you’re looking to prevent staining your veneers, there are a few foods and drinks you should avoid. Continue reading to learn more about veneers and the foods and drinks that can potentially stain them.
What Are Veneers?
Dental veneers are thin shells customized for your teeth. Your dentist applies veneers to the front of your teeth before bonding them in place to change their colour, size, shape, or length. Veneers are long-lasting; they have a lifespan of 7 to 15 years.
There are different types of veneers, made from either composite resin or porcelain. Both materials are tooth coloured to match your natural teeth. Porcelain veneers may resist stains more effectively, but your dentist can recommend the best material for your needs.
Many people choose to receive veneers to improve the appearance of their smile, but this procedure can help repair damaged teeth. If you’re interested in dental veneers, who can receive them? What benefits do veneers offer?
Who Can Get Veneers?
- Discoloured teeth from fluoride, resin fillings, root canal treatment, & other stains
- Chipped, broken, or worn down teeth
- Misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped teeth
- Gaps between teeth
Why Get Veneers?
Veneers offer several benefits, including:
- Natural tooth appearance
- Stain resistance
- Selectable colour shades
Besides these benefits, veneers are generally well tolerated by your gums, and they don’t require as much shaping as traditional crowns. While veneers are stain-resistant, there are still risks of potential staining. Your dentist will likely suggest avoiding certain foods and drinks to protect your veneers.
Preventing Stains: Avoid These Foods & Drinks
While food and drinks provide you with nutrition and energy, they can also leave stains on your teeth. Veneers are stain-resistant, but many dark-coloured drinks and sauces can affect their appearance.
If you have veneers, consider avoiding these foods and drinks to prevent potential staining.
Red Wine
More acidic foods and drinks tend to roughen and dig their way into your teeth. Red wine is acidic, and it may carve into your veneers, leaving areas where stains can develop easier. The dark colouring of red wine can leave hard-to-remove stains.
Coffee & Tea
Many people start their day with a cup of tea or coffee. Unfortunately, both of these drinks can leave stains on your teeth. Coffee and tea contain tannins, a form of a chemical compound known as polyphenol.
Tannins cause colour compounds to stick to your teeth, creating stains. The more tannins your drink has, the more likely it is to stain. Because of this, tea can stain your teeth more than coffee.
Berries & Fruit Juice
Berries are great for your overall health, but they can leave pesky stains on your teeth. The dark colour of blackberries, blueberries, and pomegranates can stain your veneers.
If you’re looking to prevent stains, consider avoiding dark juices, such as:
- Cranberry juice
- Grape juice
- Pomegranate juice
- Beet juice
Tomato-Based Sauces
Spaghetti and pizza can be great dinner choices, but they may leave stains on your teeth. You should avoid any foods featuring tomato-based sauces.
The bright colour of the sauces can leave stains, but many of these sauces are acidic. Acidic foods can lead to worse staining.
Soy Sauce & Balsamic Vinegar
Like other dark-coloured sauces and drinks, soy sauce and balsamic vinegar have a reputation for staining teeth. Try avoiding these two sauces to prevent staining your veneers.
Foods like vinegar have a higher acid content, and this can lead to worse staining. The breakdown of the surface of the teeth from these foods can allow a stain to set in.
Candy
Hard or gummy-like candies containing dyes, and other sweets, like dark chocolate, can cause mild staining to your veneers.
While you should try your best to avoid or lower your intake of these foods and drinks, you may feel tempted to have them. With proper dental hygiene, you can mitigate your chance of stained veneers.
Dental Hygiene Can Help You Maintain Your Veneers
You may have veneers covering your natural teeth, but you still need to practice proper dental hygiene. Follow good brushing and flossing habits, and continue to see your dentist for regular examinations.
If you’re eating or drinking something that can stain your teeth, rinse your mouth with water to reduce the chance of any staining. If you have a morning coffee or tea, brush your teeth after finishing your drink.
Dental veneers are great for someone who wants to improve their smile, but you need to maintain them. With regular dental care, you can help your veneers last.
If you’re interested in veneers or need a dental exam, contact your dentist to book an appointment.
