After Cosmetic Dental Treatment: Care Instructions

Immediately After Treatment

The first 24–48 hours after your cosmetic procedure are important for ensuring your results set properly and last as long as possible.

• •Avoid eating for 1 hour after composite bonding to allow the material to fully harden.
• •Avoid staining foods and drinks for 48 hours after tooth whitening or bonding — no tea, coffee, red wine, curries, or berries.
• •Avoid smoking for at least 48 hours post-procedure, as tobacco stains freshly placed restorations quickly.
• •Sensitivity to hot and cold is normal after veneer placement — it will settle within a few days.
• •If temporary veneers were placed, avoid hard and sticky foods until your permanent veneers are fitted.

Protecting Your Results

Long-term habits have the biggest impact on how well your cosmetic results hold up.

• •Do not bite your nails, chew pens, or use your teeth as tools — this is one of the most common ways to chip veneers and bonding.
• •Avoid biting directly into very hard foods — apples, hard bread crusts, ice — use a knife to cut them first.
• •If you grind your teeth at night, let us know — a night guard will protect your restorations significantly.
• •Wear a mouthguard for any contact sports.
• •Avoid excessive alcohol-based mouthwashes, which can weaken bonding agents over time — use fluoride-based rinses instead.

Oral Hygiene After Cosmetic Work

• •Brush twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste.
• •Floss daily around veneers and bonded teeth — food and bacteria accumulating at the margins can lead to decay underneath.
• •Use a fluoride mouthwash nightly to strengthen the underlying enamel.
• •Avoid whitening toothpastes with harsh abrasives — they can scratch polished resin surfaces.
• •Schedule regular checkups and professional cleanings every 6 months to keep your smile looking its best.

When to Contact Us

• •A chip or crack in a veneer or bonded tooth — even small damage should be evaluated promptly.
• •Sensitivity that worsens rather than improving after the first week.
• •A veneer feels loose or comes off completely — bring the veneer with you to the appointment.
• •Gum soreness or swelling around a restored tooth that lasts more than a week.
• •Dark or discoloured margin appearing at the edge of a veneer — this may indicate a gap or decay.