The First 48 Hours
Immediately after your veneers or crowns are cemented, the bonding agent needs time to fully cure. Stick to a soft food diet (pasta, mashed potatoes, soups) and avoid incredibly hot or cold foods to prevent sensitivity.
Long-Term Eating Habits
While porcelain and zirconia are incredibly strong, they are not indestructible. To protect your investment:
- Do not bite directly into hard items like apples, crusty bread, or raw carrots with your front teeth. Cut them into smaller pieces.
- Never use your teeth as tools to open bottles, crack nuts, or tear packages.
- Limit highly staining foods like red wine, coffee, and turmeric. While porcelain is stain-resistant, the cement underneath and your natural teeth are not.
Night Guards
If you grind your teeth at night (bruxism), a custom-fitted night guard is absolutely mandatory. Grinding places immense pressure on veneers and can cause them to crack or debond.