If you are vaping and have porcelain veneers, this guide is for you. Dr. Kelley Mingus explains how vaping can affect the longevity of your porcelain veneers. You’ve invested both time and money in improving your smile, and it’s essential to understand how certain behaviors might be undermining your investment.
At Kelley Mingus’s practice in Bend, Oregon, understanding the effects of lifestyle choices and habits on oral health and dental treatments is emphasized. This post explores the specific impacts of vaping on porcelain veneers and provides preventative tips to extend the lifespan of your veneers.
Understanding Porcelain Veneers
Before we delve into how vaping affects porcelain veneers, it’s crucial to understand what veneers are and why individuals choose them. As a cosmetic dentistry service provided by Dr. Kelley Mingus, porcelain veneers are a common solution for those desiring an enhanced smile. They are custom-made, tooth-colored shells bonded to the front of discolored, stained, misaligned, or chipped teeth.
Patients like Rebecca and Michael have benefitted significantly from these services. Rebecca had unknowingly been experiencing teeth grinding, leading to enamel wear and the development of extra bone under her tongue. The placement of porcelain veneers helped not only address these issues but also aesthetically enhance her smile.
Similarly, Michael wanted to boost his on-camera confidence by improving his smile. Without wanting anything too flashy, he opted for smile rehabilitation via porcelain veneers. The end result was a refined, natural-looking smile that eased his interaction during online meetings.
How Vaping Affects Porcelain Veneers
As our practice explains to patients like Rebecca and Michael, life habits, including vaping, may impact the durability and appearance of veneers. Here’s how vaping affects the longevity of your porcelain veneers:
Vaping and Oral Dryness
Vaping can cause dryness in your mouth, as the vape smoke reduces saliva production. Saliva protects your teeth through its unique composition that fights off harmful bacteria. Its reduction poses a threat to porcelain veneers as your mouth’s acidity can increase, potentially damaging the bonding material that holds the veneers.
Vaping and Oral Hygiene
Nicotine, a substance often found in e-cigarettes, can discolor teeth and veneers alike. Given that one of the benefits of porcelain veneers is brighter teeth, discoloration can defeat their purpose.
Vaping and Gum Health
Vaping has been linked to gum disease, which can loosen the hold on the teeth and eventually affect the stability of your porcelain veneers.
Preventing Damage to Your Porcelain Veneers Caused by Vaping
– Follow a Good Oral Hygiene Routine: Although this advice holds true even if you’re not vaping, it becomes more crucial if you are. Maintaining good oral hygiene helps counteract the effects of vaping on your porcelain veneers. Regular brushing, flossing, and professional dental cleanings are paramount.
– Limit Nicotine Exposure: If you vape, try using nicotine-free e-liquids to prevent the veneers from discoloring.
– Stay Hydrated: Since vaping can cause dry mouth, staying properly hydrated helps increase saliva production.
Ideally, if you want to enhance and extend the longevity of your porcelain veneers, consider quitting vaping altogether. Dr. Kelley Mingus is always able to provide advice and support to any patient willing to kick the habit for the sake of their bright and confident smile.