Veneers are an affordable way to correct damaged or misshapen teeth. They give your teeth a more uniform look and tend to be a durable form of cosmetic dentistry. Therefore, if you maintain them properly, they will last for a long time without any difficulties. However, if your veneer manages to chip or crack, they are usually not repairable. Your dentist will have to replace the entire veneer. As a result, there are a few bad habits you should avoid in order to keep your veneers in healthy condition.

Avoid Grinding Your Teeth

Teeth grinding is a habit that is difficult to break because many people that grind their teeth are not aware that they do. This is due to the fact that teeth grinding occurs frequently while you are sleeping. The pressure caused by your lower and upper teeth grinding against each other will slowly chip away at your veneers. Eventually, the constant grinding will wear your veneers down until they crack. A common sign of teeth grinding is a stiff or sore jaw. If you experience some pain in your jaw when you wake up each morning then you may need to calm your body before falling asleep. Teeth grinding can occur due to stress. Therefore, drinking teas that contain chamomile and lavender will help to calm the body before bed.

Avoid Using Your Teeth to Open Objects

It is fairly common to use your teeth to open bags, bottles, and other objects. However, this habit is terrible on your veneers. Many of these materials are hard and the added pressure will cause your veneers to crack or even break. Therefore, the only thing your teeth should be used for is eating.

Avoid Chewing Ice

Chewing ice is a habit that is detrimental to your veneers as well as your teeth. The constant friction between your veneers and the ice eats away at your veneers. If you chew ice on a regular basis, then you are slowly weakening the veneer. Over time, the ice will eventually cause your veneer to crack. If you really enjoy having ice in your mouth, then you can allow it to melt in your mouth instead of chewing it. This is a lot easier on your veneers and will help to preserve them.

Veneers are not intended to last a lifetime; however, good maintenance will ensure that they last for a long period of time. Therefore avoid any of these bad habits in order to maintain the health of your veneers.