Dental bonding is one of the fastest, most effective, and most versatile treatments available in dentistry today. Dental bonding is used to achieve a wide number of functional and aesthetic results, but what do you do once the treatment is complete? In this short article our Santa Monica dentist is reviewing some key elements of caring for dental bonding in your everyday life.
So let’s get started!
The first thing you should do is follow your dentist-recommended daily oral hygiene plan. When you brush and floss as recommended, you help to prevent excessive plaque buildup. As you probably already know, plaque can cause gum disease, and it can also cause the natural tooth structure under your bonding to become infected.
Dental resin is naturally pretty stain-resistant. However, if you want to take additional steps to minimize dental discoloration, you can rinse your mouth with water after eating or drinking something staining.
Also, keep in mind that habits and substances that are bad for your natural teeth can often also hurt your bonding. For example:
· Try not to chew on ice, hard candies, or mints as these can cause your resin to crack. Chomping on these things is also potentially harmful to your natural enamel!
· If you suffer from bruxism (chronic dental grinding and clenching), seek treatment as soon as possible. This condition puts an enormous amount of pressure on your bonding, and can lead to damage.
· Do not pick at your natural teeth or your bonding with metal/wooden toothpicks or sharp instruments. Rather, use gentle floss to remove dental debris from your smile.
You’ll find that with a little foresight, dental bonding is very easy to care for, so you can keep it looking great for years to come. If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to our Santa Monica dentist!