Things You Should And Shouldn't Do After Getting Veneers

Veneers can completely transform your smile. Loved by celebrities and influencers alike, they are quickly becoming more accessible for the general public and are ideal for anyone who is slightly insecure or worried about how their teeth look or feel. Results are immediate and they almost always look natural — meaning it's easy to forget that they aren't actually your natural teeth. Lucky for us, aesthetic dentist Dr. Michael Apa recently revealed everything you should and shouldn't do after getting veneers to Byrdie.

"Everything can and should be done the same after getting a smile makeover," Apa said. "If they're done correctly, veneers should act as natural teeth do." In other words, you can and should continue to eat and drink whatever you want — but keeping your teeth in good health is vital with the same daily oral hygiene routine that you've always had. In other words, don't be tempted to stop brushing your teeth or flossing, as it's just as important to do so now as it was before you got your new veneers.

The main reason you should look after veneers is that it can prolong their lifespan. "In good health, porcelain restorations can last anywhere from 15 to 20 years," explains Apa. "Some people may keep them longer, but the trick is to change them before any cavities appear or wear begins occurring, which can destroy your natural teeth."

Like brushing your teeth and flossing, it's also important to see your dentist regularly so that they can keep an eye on your flashy new pearly whites, so the main thing that you should not do is avoid going to the dentist on a regular basis just because you have a set of shiny, gorgeous veneers, which apparently is tempting to some people who get them. 

"One thing that sometimes happens is patients will get a full smile makeover and then not follow up with regularly scheduled appointments for years, which are crucial to monitoring their progress," Apa told Byrdie. "Teeth shift, grinding can occur, and your bite can shift over time, ruining your real teeth or your new, very expensive porcelain ones." Ultimately, if you don't look after them correctly, you'll end up paying for it.