Can You Whiten Veneers?
Veneers are one of the top cosmetic treatments to improve your smile.
These custom-made thin shells fix a variety of smile flaws, including:
- Discolored or stained teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Smile gaps
- Cracked, chipped, or broken teeth
However:
Over time, you may notice your veneers changing color.
So you might be wondering:
“Can you whiten veneers?”
The short answer? No.
But why?
In this blog, you’ll learn:
- If veneers stain easily
- Why you shouldn’t whiten your veneers
- How they become discolored
- And more!
Do veneers stain easily?
There are two types of veneers:
- Composite
- Porcelain
Composite veneers use resin material, while porcelain veneers are crafted from thin shells of porcelain.
Composite material is more susceptible to staining because of its porous nature, similar to your natural teeth.
On the other hand:
Porcelain veneers are very resistant to staining and will generally stay white during their duration.
Keep reading to learn what habits and foods can stain your veneers.
Can you whiten veneers?
Traditional teeth whitening treatments don’t work on porcelain material.
Since they’re made to be highly stain-resistant, the material used is not permeable to whitening treatments.
Good news:
You’re able to choose your desired shade of whiteness for your veneers before they’re bonded to your teeth.
While you may not be able to whiten them after, you can count on your veneers to stay bright and white long term.
How do veneers become discolored?
Although the porcelain material is extremely stain resistant, some things can cause staining over an extended time, including:
- Smoking
- Dark foods and drinks
- Dental trauma
Smoking
Smoking is all-around bad for your health, and your veneers are no different.
Smoking is one of the most common causes… This text opens a new tab to the National Institue of Health website… of stained teeth. This includes tobacco stains that may be yellow, brown, or even black depending on the frequency of the habit.
In addition to staining your veneers, smoking may also increase your chance of:
- Periodontal disease
- Tooth loss
- Oral cancer
Your veneers are a worthwhile investment. Care for them by limiting bad habits such as smoking.
Dark foods and drinks
Some of our favorite foods and drinks may be the culprit of veneer stains! These include:
- Red wine
- Coffee
- Soda
- Berries
Limiting your intake or using a straw for beverages will help keep your veneers bright.
Dental trauma
If your teeth go through dental trauma, such as being hit, they may become damaged underneath your veneer.
Your dentin is the soft, inner pulp of your tooth that could become discolored after dental trauma. This can show up through your veneers, regardless of material.
How to take care of your veneers
Keep your veneers bright and white with our top 3 tips.
1. Visit your dentist regularly
Even though you can’t whiten veneers, professional routine cleanings remove plaque and bacteria build-up from your veneers.
This will keep them in the best shape possible!
2. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush
After getting veneers, you should consider switching to a soft-bristled nylon toothbrush if you don’t already have one.
Firmer bristles can damage the porcelain material and may even cause your gum line to recede slightly.
3. Brush your teeth after every meal
While brushing your teeth two times a day is the usual standard, increasing how often you brush your teeth can help your veneers stay bright for longer.
Brushing your teeth after consuming staining beverages such as coffee or berries will help prevent stains.
Searching for natural-looking veneers in Kennesaw, GA?
At Brookpointe Dental, we’re proud to offer high-quality porcelain veneers that’ll keep your smile shining for years to come!
Dr. Eric Duncan has the skills, education, and training to ensure your cosmetic treatments are as stress-free as possible. He’s one of less than 1% of dentists worldwide to have completed the full mouth curriculum at the world-renowned Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies.… This text opens a new tab to the Las Vegas Institue website…
Ready to love your smile?
Or:
- Call us at 770-974-7188
- Email us at drduncanoffice@comcast.net
Our office is conveniently located… This text opens a new tab to the Google Maps website… in Kennesaw, GA. We happily welcome patients from all over, including Marietta, Acworth, Woodstock, Fair Oaks, Northeast Cobb, Emerson, Cartersville, Dallas, and Powder Springs, GA.
