Once you have improved the function and/or appearance of your smile using dental bonding, you want to make sure that you can maintain those results for years to come. Today our Santa Monica Dentist is going to give you some additional information about how to keep your bonding looking great and feeling strong. Keep reading to learn more!
As you would imagine, the first step to caring for your dental bonding is to keep up with your daily oral hygiene routine. This means flossing and brushing your teeth, and your bonding, as recommended by your dentist. This will help to keep your bonding clean, and to keep your natural enamel and gum tissues healthy, so that they can effectively support your bonding.
It’s also important to keep in mind that habits that are bad for your natural teeth are also bad for your dental bonding. So, for example, you don’t want to chew on ice, hard candies, or mints, as these things can all cause your bonding to crack.
Another common threat to strong bonding is bruxism, or chronic dental grinding and clenching. If you think that you may be suffering from bruxism, please talk to your dentist about ways to protect your smile and minimize damage. Chronic dental grinding puts an enormous amount of pressure on your real enamel and bonding; over time this pressure causes teeth and resin to develop cracks and chips.
Finally, talk to your dentist about the types of toothpaste and mouthwash that you should be using once your bonding is complete. Certain types of fluoride, for example, can weaken bonding (generally sodium fluoride is considered the safe option for dental resin!).
Our Santa Monica dentist is here to provide you with more information, so that you can make the best decisions for your smile. Call our office to schedule a consultation!