What can I eat with dental veneers?

Cosmetic dental veneers can give you the healthy smile you’ve always wanted. Dental veneers are ultra-thin porcelain shells bonded to the front surface of your teeth, designed to improve imperfections and ultimately transform any gappy, chipped, or stained smile by enhancing the shape, color, and appearance of your teeth. It is an excellent and trendy cosmetic dental option for a bright, natural-looking smile. Veneers are highly durable, strong, and stain-resistant. The most common and popular questions about veneers from our patients are "What food do I have to avoid?"

Foods You Can and Can't Eat With Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers should not impact the eating of any food. The good news is that you can enjoy your favorite drinks and eat. But veneers require a little additional care, and it is essential to keep your new veneers in mind, practice good at-home oral hygiene, and regularly visit the dentist for check-ups. Surfaces are built to last longer, up to 20 years, with proper care, but they are not as strong as natural teeth.

High-grade porcelain veneers are not easily damaged. You can eat hard and crunchy foods such as carrots, apples, and nuts, as long as you eat carefully. If you bite tough food, you may crack the porcelain. Always try to use your back teeth to chew hard foods. A good habit is to cut all your food into small pieces. Be especially careful and delicate with sticky edibles. Don’t forget to rinse your teeth after every meal.

Food You Should Avoid or Limit:

Don’t smoke or chew tobacco – porcelain is resistant to stain, but composite used to attach veneers is not and can contribute to staining
Rinse your mouth or brush immediately after consuming dark and pigmented liquids such as coffee, tea, or red wine, and use a straw.
Drinking alcohol should be limited (and alcohol-based mouthwashes also) because it can weaken the porcelain’s bonding agent.
Avoid acidic foods such as lemons and tomatoes. If you eat acidic food, brush your teeth right after.
Never chew or bite into the ice - it can cause a chip or break.

If you have veneers, coming in for routine dental check-ups is essential for your health. Please get in touch with us to schedule your FREE consultation with one of our experienced dentists in Cambridge, MA! We are always ready to give you veneers eating recommendations, and you can have a natural-looking and beautiful smile with us!

For more information about dental veneers, please call our office at (617) 374-9500 or contact us online.