Post Care for your Best Smile Restoration

Restoring a smile depends heavily on what you want or need. Do you have missing teeth? Decayed or chipped teeth? Do you simply want whiter teeth? All these factors play into what kind of procedures the Boise dentists at Summit Dental will use.

For the best smile restoration, our Boise dentists use a combination of veneers, crowns or implants to give you an award winning smile but ultimately it’s up to you to care for it. Listed below are some tips and guidelines for the procedure your Boise dentist might suggest.

Caring for your teeth after whitening

There are several rules to follow after a teeth whitening procedure. A tooth whitening procedure removes a protective layer of your tooth called the acquired pellicle during your Boise teeth cleaning or whitening process. While removing this layer doesn’t result in any permanent enamel loss, it does however take twelve to twenty four hours for the barrier to fully develop once again. New stains are then easily developed over the next 48 hours after your procedure.

It is important NOT to consume dark or yellow staining substances. Don’t smoke, avoid coffee/tea, red or other colored beverages, lipstick, and various fruits and veggies such as tomatoes, and berries. In addition, do not use any colored toothpastes, gels, or colored mouthwashes for at least 48 hours.

Veneers & Crowns

Veneers are very strong but also brittle. Caring for your veneers is almost identical to caring for your teeth normally. Avoid biting your fingernails, chewing on ice, or using your teeth to open food or drink packages. Furthermore, brush, and floss your veneers routinely with a non-abrasive fluoride toothpaste as suggested by your Boise dentist.

You should also return to your Boise dentist for regular professional maintenance. Porcelain veneers require being polished with a specially formulated, non-abrasive paste, and should be inspected for any problems or damages.

While a crowned tooth does not require any special care, remember to practice good oral hygiene by brushing at least twice a day and flossing regularly. Like veneers avoid biting on hard surfaces such as ice, popcorn hulls, etc.

Implants

Boise tooth implants are very durable, and last many years. They require the same “maintenance” as real teeth, including brushing, flossing and regular Boise dental check-ups. Below are some guidelines for the initial recovery of post-surgical implant placement, and the replacement tooth:·

• Take prescribed pain medication as needed for pain.
• Take all prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection.
• Drink only clear liquids; a soft diet is recommended for the first few days.
• Use an extra-soft toothbrush twice daily to clean pre-existing teeth or other implants, being careful to avoid the surgical incision area.
• Clean between teeth once a day throughout the entire mouth except at the surgical site.
• If recommended, use saltwater rinses or non-alcohol antimicrobial mouth rinse two times daily.

Replacement tooth home-care guidelines

• Brush twice daily with low-abrasive toothpaste.
• Floss regularly.
• If recommended, use inter-dental brush, rubber tip, soft picks or water irrigation one to two times daily.

Have more questions about smile restoration? Stop by our Boise dentist office for a consultation, or leave us a comment or question below.