Composite veneers are not quite as strong as porcelain veneers, but if you care for them, they can last many years. If you are about to get composite veneers, or already have them, the following tips will help you to keep them looking good.

1. Cut Down on Staining Foods

Composite bonding will stain if you eat staining foods like curry and pizza every day. Therefore, it's a good idea to tweak your menu so that you don't expose your composite veneers to staining molecules too often.

2. Rinse Your Mouth After Meals

If you find it difficult to stop eating your favorite staining foods, make sure you remember to rinse your mouth out after meals. Doing this will remove the staining molecules from your mouth and from the surfaces of your teeth.

3. Don't Brush Your Teeth Too Hard

Even if you brush composite bonding with too much force, you will eventually damage it. Brush your composite bonded teeth gently. Don't saw sideways. Instead, place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle when you brush. 

4. Avoid Abrasive Toothpastes

Abrasive toothpastes are good at removing stains from teeth. But they can damage composite bonding. Use non-abrasive toothpastes when brushing composite bonding.

5. Be Careful When Eating Hard Foods

Composite bonding is no match for tooth enamel. While you can chew hard foods like corn on the cob and boiled candy with your healthy natural teeth, avoid doing so with your bonded teeth. Otherwise, you could break your composite bonding.

6. Wear a Mouthguard If You Grind Your Teeth

If you grind your teeth sometimes due to stress, then purchase a mouth guard to protect your teeth while you sleep. Although custom dental mouth guards provide much better protection because they are designed specifically for your mouth, even a store-bought mouth guard can protect your composite bonded teeth overnight.

7. Get Them Polished Twice a Year

This is an especially important tip if you enjoy eating staining foods, drinking alcohol, or smoking because all of these habits will stain your bonded teeth. A dental polishing once every 6 months or so will help to remove any extrinsic stains from your bonding so they look almost as good as new.

By following these tips, you can keep your composite veneers in good condition for as long as possible. But eventually, when you can afford it, consider replacing your composites with porcelain veneers, as porcelain is much stronger and more stain-resistant than composite.

To learn more, reach out to a cosmetic dentistry service in your area.