How Do I Keep my Dental Veneers White?

Excellent oral hygiene is very important.  You can get surface staining on the veneers from coffee and smoking.  The stains can be polished off at the dentist or with brushing.Patients with dry mouth have the most problem with surface staining.I almost always provide my veneer patients with a night time mouth guard to prevent damage from clenching, grinding and anterior bracing.  This is especially important if you wore down your natural teeth.  I have patients who use whitening strips to remove stain from the surface of the veneers.  They will not lighten the veneers but will take off stubborn stain, especially in smokers.I have had two  patients report they use a dry washcloth to remove stain and that it works very well.  

While porcelain veneers do not readily absorb stains they can still collect light surface stains from smoking coffee and red wine after many years of using and ingesting these products. Good oral hygiene is key. Regular office visits to help keep your smile bright are even more important now! Use non-abrasive toothpaste. If you notice some especially dark staining (which you shouldn't) your dentist can possibly help remove this in the office with a whitening gel. Keep them clean and visit your dentist regularly!

Porcelain veneers are for the most part resistant to stain from coffee, tea, red wine, etc.   They keep their beautiful appearance for years and years as long as you stay away from very abrasive toothpastes that contain baking soda or peroxide.  In addition, make sure that your dental hygienist is aware that you have veneers.  He or she will use a less abrasive polishing paste when cleaning your teeth to help ensure that your veneers keep their luster.