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There is a difference between natural teeth and their replacement, whether veneers or implants. Can you eat with veneers as you do with natural teeth? Yes. You can eat with veneers, but the ability varies from material to material.
Porcelain veneers are the strongest of all and can be used to eat raw foods and sustain pressure. However, composite resin veneers and no-prep veneers are less intense than porcelain. Therefore, you need to be extra cautious with them.
Can you wear veneers while eating? Yes. However, some foods should be eaten with veneers, while others shouldn’t. You might wonder how we can consume various kinds of food with veneers, like apples, nuts, hard candy, corn on cobs, chewing gum, alcohol, tobacco, etc.
Let us look into the answer to your question, ‘Can you eat with veneers?’ one nutrient at a time.
It’s easy and convenient to eat soft food with veneers. However, eating hard food with temporary or permanent veneers can be challenging.
Can you eat apples with veneers? You must be cautious when eating hard food like apples, raw carrots, and meat with bone. These hard foods can put pressure on veneers and lead to their damage. One needs to be very careful in biting these hard foods. We can use the posterior teeth to chew these foods.
However, when we discuss composite and no-prep veneers, the answer to the question, ‘Can you eat with veneers?’ becomes dubious. Biting food is tricky with veneers other than porcelain veneers.
When it comes to nuts, the answer to your question, “Can you eat with veneers?’ becomes a no. Nuts should be avoided as they can break the veneer. Nuts like pistachio, walnuts, and almonds have a harsh surface, which exerts immense pressure on these replacements.
Pizzas, sandwiches, and burgers can be eaten when you have permanent veneers as they are soft foods and don’t strain the veneer and the bonding material. However, be careful while biting the pizza crust and chicken pieces because sometimes they can be hard or crispy, making it difficult to chew. If you have temporary veneers, avoid eating soft or hard food because they are made solely for aesthetic purposes and not mastication.
Can you eat chips with veneers? Yes, chips can be eaten in small quantities. Nutritionally, chips are considered junk. They do not produce cracks or break the veneers, but being low in nutrition, they are not very beneficial.
When we have candies on the plate and veneers in the mouth, always choose softer, chewable candies. On the contrary, hard candies that stick to teeth and need biting should be avoided to prevent veneer cracks.
Can you chew gum with veneers? Yes, you can. Why is that? There are mainly two reasons for that. Chewing gums are soft, primarily because posterior teeth or molars are used to chew gums. The rigid binding material won’t allow the gum to go beneath the veneer and cause strain. However, it is better to avoid sugar gums as sugar may lead to tooth cavities. Both porcelain and composite veneers are chewing-gum friendly.
Good news for you! You can eat protein like meat, fish, and steak if you have porcelain veneers. However, it is recommended to bite and chew slowly in small pieces to avoid harm to the veneers. Some people may habituate chewing or pulling the meat on the bone. Such habits must be discontinued as this habit may result in broken veneers.
With or without veneers, tobacco smoke is harmful to health. It puts not only oral health but overall health at risk. Porcelain veneers are stain-free, but tobacco potentially changes the color of bonding materials. Smoking cigarettes, cigars, etc., not only stains the veneers but also gives the project an unhealthy and pale look.
Alcohol in any form is unhealthy and is not allowed in large amounts when wearing veneers as it can soften the bonding material and make it unstable. The longevity of veneers is affected by it.
According to research, people who consume alcohol are more likely to develop gum diseases like periodontitis. This is because the salivary flow is reduced due to continuous alcohol consumption, which leads to the deposition of bacterial colonies. These bacterial colonies deposit plaque and calculus, leading to the failure of veneers and affecting natural teeth.
Caffeine is present in tea, soft drinks, energy drinks, and coffee. Drinking caffeine with porcelain veneers is not contraindicated as they are stain-free, but if used in large quantities, they can lead to tooth discoloration from the edges. The stains on the veneers can be removed; however, the discoloration on the edges is difficult to remove.
If we consider caffeine consumption with composite veneers, then the temperature of the beverage matters. It is because composite veneers are heat activated, and if someone with composite veneers needs caffeine, it is better to opt for cold beverages like cold coffees, iced tea, etc.
The following list of foods is an absolute contraindication that, if consumed, may result in harm to the veneers:
The ability of temporary veneers to resist deformation and breakage is less than that of permanent veneers. The following foods must not be used with temporary veneers:
Veneers have revolutionized the world of dentistry. Veneers have made approaching an aesthetic smile, i.e., a Hollywood smile, convenient. This article has answered your question, ‘Can you eat with veneers?’. But which veneers are the best to be used? Porcelain veneers are an expensive yet all-rounder option.
It is costly but allows more comfort and gives a bigger window for eating. Unlike composite and no-prep veneers, they aid in chewing, speech, and all the regular oral functions. Moreover, according to research, porcelain veneers were given on 87 maxillary teeth in 25 patients, and ten years later, these veneers survived.
Are you searching for veneer experts in NJ to get the best quality, customized porcelain veneers for yourself? Then don’t worry; book your appointment today for veneers that will last for decades with the right approach and care.
Hesed Dental 543 Gorge Road Cliffside Park, NJ 07010
201 941 8877