Bad Breath: You Don't Have to Live with It

If you have received cosmetic dental procedures such as dental veneers, then you will want to ensure that they maintain their beauty for years to come. Veneers, like your natural teeth, are not immune to staining, so to keep them looking great, you will need to take a few precautions. Here are three ways to keep your dental veneers looking new and stain-free:

Use Caution With Liquid Iron

If you have been diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia, your health care provider may have prescribed supplemental iron. While iron is available in tablet form, it may be absorbed more readily in liquid form. Liquid iron can be very damaging to both your restorative dental work and your natural teeth.

It can cause severe staining when it comes into contact with your teeth, so it is important that you consume it through a straw. You will also want to dilute the iron product with water, per labeling instructions, and make sure that it doesn't touch your teeth while sipping it through the straw. If you unable to drink your iron through a straw, or are intolerable of the taste, ask your doctor if you can take it in tablet form. 

Avoid Highly Pigmented Foods And Drinks

Foods and beverages that are richly pigmented can stain your veneers. These include coffee, tea, cola, wine, grape juice, and cherries. If you do not want to give up these foods and beverages, rinse your mouth with plenty of water after consuming them, and if possible, brush your teeth afterwards.

While occasional consumption of pigmented foods may not permanently stain your dental restorations, long-term or heavy consumption may lead to significant staining. Food and beverage stains are typically known as surface, or extrinsic staining, which is usually amendable to home bleaching treatments or whitening toothpastes. 

Stay Hydrated

When you become dehydrated, your oral cavity becomes dry and sticky. This can cause stain-causing foods, drinks, and liquid medications to adhere longer to your teeth, promoting discoloration. Make sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day, and avoid caffeinated beverages.

Drinking caffeinated beverages can lead to dehydration and further tooth staining. Most caffeinated beverages are pigmented and stain provoking. Also, certain acidic beverages such as orange juice and coffee can lead to erosion, which can raise the risk for staining and infection of the pulp or dental nerve.

If you have dental veneers and are concerned about staining, see your dentist. It is important to receive regular dental checkups to ensure that your dental restorations are in excellent condition and to make sure that your natural teeth and gums are healthy. For more information, contact companies like Royal Oak Dental.