Dental restorations such as veneers, crowns, implants and even resin based filling can be expensive.  Protecting your investment and making it last longer just makes good  sense. Therefore with proper care and regular dentist visits you can look good and your crowns, veneers and other restorations will be able to last for many years.

Normally when you have cosmetic dental services your dentist will provide you with a list of dos and don’t,  but here are some tips to keep in mind.

* Do not use hard bristle toothbrush:  Hard bristle toothbrushes are abrasive and can scratch the surface of your restorations there by dulling their polish and luster.

* Do not use highly abrasive toothpastes:  For the same reason as why you do not want to use hard bristle toothbrush, abrasive toothpaste can also scratch the surface of your restorations.  An a example of a non abrasive fluoride toothpaste would be Rembrandt toothpaste, but there are others and you can talk to your dentist to see what he or she may advise.

* Flossing:  Good for your teeth and good for your restorations.  By flossing regularly you are removing debris and plaque from your teeth. This is good for your teeth but flossing will also increase the lifespan of your restorations since it  helps prevent tooth decay.

* Use alcohol-free mouthwash:  Studies show that mouthwashes that contain alcohol have a negative effect on composite fillings. In addition, the alcohol content in mouth rinses, over time, can degrade the bond between your restorations (crowns and veneers) and your teeth.

* Food and Drinks.  Try to either limit or avoid food that are high in sugar in order to prevent cavities. Also limit the and consumption of coffee, soda, tea and other stainable drinks.

* Do not bite and or chew on hard objects such as pens and do not use your teeth as tools to open or bit off objects.

* If you grind your teeth make sure to wear a fitted night guard

Treat your teeth and dental restorations well and your resin-based restorations (such fillings) can last anywhere from three to nine years or longer and your porcelain restorations (such as veneers and crowns) can last 10 years or more before they need to be replaced.