What can’t you eat with veneers?

Getting dental veneers can dramatically improve the look of your smile. These thin shells made of porcelain or composite materials are bonded to the front of your teeth. Veneers can fix chips or cracks, change the shape and color of your teeth, and give you a more even and whiter smile. While veneers are strong and durable, you do need to be careful about what foods you eat after getting them. Chewing on hard or sticky foods can sometimes damage or dislodge veneers. So what are some things you should avoid eating with veneers?

Foods to Avoid with Veneers

Here are some types of foods that can be problematic for veneers:

Hard Foods

  • Ice cubes
  • Candies like jolly ranchers or lollipops
  • Hard crackers or pretzels
  • Raw vegetables like carrots or celery
  • Popcorn kernels
  • Nuts

Biting down on hard foods like ice or nuts can crack or chip veneers. Try to avoid eating these foods or modify how you eat them. For example, letting hard candies dissolve in your mouth instead of chewing them.

Chewy or Sticky Foods

  • Chewy candies like caramels, licorice, or gum
  • Sticky foods like caramel or taffy
  • Dried fruits like raisins or dates
  • Gummy candies
  • Chewy granola bars

Sticky or chewy foods can grab onto veneers and potentially pull them off or damage them. It’s best to avoid eating these foods altogether when you first get veneers. After they are firmly bonded to your teeth, you may be able to eat some of these foods in moderation.

Crunchy Foods

  • Chips
  • Popcorn
  • Pizza crust
  • Hard breads
  • Raw vegetables
  • Nuts
  • Seeds

Crunchy foods like chips, seeds, nuts, and raw veggies take more force to bite through. This heavy biting action can cause stress fractures in veneers. Go for softer options or cut crunchy foods into smaller pieces.

Crusty Foods

  • Bread crusts
  • Pizza crust
  • Pastry crusts
  • Pie crusts
  • Taco shells

The hard, crusty texture of foods like bread crusts and pie crusts requires serious chewing power. All that crunching motion can damage veneers. You’re better off removing crusty outer layers of foods.

Chewy Meats

  • Beef jerky
  • Tough cuts of meat with gristle
  • Ribs
  • Tough hot dogs or sausages

Skip foods with chewy textures like steak, hot dogs, or ribs after getting veneers. The aggressive chewing can loosen or crack them. Go for tender and easy to chew meat options.

Other Foods to Watch Out For

In addition to avoiding hard, sticky, crunchy, crusty, and chewy foods, here are some other things to keep in mind:

  • Avoid biting into fruits with pits like cherries or olives.
  • Don’t use your teeth to open bottles or rip open packaging.
  • Cut down on coffee, tea, tobacco, and other tooth staining items.
  • Skip alcohol if it causes you to grind your teeth.
  • Be careful with popcorn, corn on the cob, bones, and other foods that can get stuck in teeth.

Tips for Eating with New Veneers

It may seem like you have to avoid a lot of foods with veneers, but there are still plenty of safe options. Here are some tips for eating after getting veneers:

  • Stick to soft, tender foods like scrambled eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, smoothies, mashed potatoes, pasta, steamed vegetables, soups, and baked fish.
  • Cut up fruits and vegetables into small pieces before eating them.
  • Avoid using your front teeth to bite into foods. Use your back molars instead.
  • Briefly soak hard, crunchy, or crusty foods in milk, broth, or water to soften them before eating.
  • Remove hard stems and seeds from fruits and vegetables.
  • Peel and cook veggies like carrots, celery, and broccoli which are hard raw.
  • Cut or rip foods into bite-size pieces that are easy to chew.
  • Take small bites of food and chew completely with your back teeth.

Focus on a soft foods diet for at least 2 weeks after getting veneers. Then slowly reintroduce some of the crunchier foods you love. Just take care to cut them into smaller pieces first. With time, your veneers will become firmly cemented to your teeth and able to withstand more pressure. But continue being gentle when biting and chewing.

Foods You Can Eat in Moderation

Once your veneers are well settled, you can enjoy some foods in moderation. Here are some things you can try eating once your veneers have bonded:

  • Firm fruits like apples – cut into slices
  • Fresh vegetables – cook them until slightly soft
  • Bread – avoid the crusty outer layer
  • Pizza – be careful when biting into the crust
  • Cookies or crackers – choose soft varieties; dunk them to soften
  • Waffles or pancakes – cut into pieces; avoid crispy outer edges
  • Chicken wings – remove meat from bones with a fork
  • Nuts – chop finely; avoid whole nuts

The key is to eat slowly, take small bites, and chew thoroughly with your back teeth. This reduces pressure on your veneers. And always cut crunchy or hard foods into small pieces first. With care, you can enjoy all your favorite foods in moderation.

Foods to Enjoy Freely with Veneers

Here are some snack and meal options that are safe for veneers:

  • Yogurt and cottage cheese
  • Oatmeal, cream of wheat, and smoothies
  • Mashed potatoes and macaroni and cheese
  • Rice, quinoa, and other grains
  • Tender meats like chicken, fish, eggs, meatballs
  • Cooked or canned fruits like applesauce, peaches, pears
  • Soft cooked vegetables like green beans, squash, peas
  • Puddings, custards, ice cream, popsicles
  • Protein or granola bars – soft varieties
  • Baked goods like cakes, muffins, rolls, biscuits
  • Pastas with sauce
  • Hummus, bean dips, and guacamole
  • Soups, stews, chili

Focus on these softer, smooth textured foods as the main part of your diet, especially right after getting veneers. With time and care, you’ll be able to slowly add back in crunchier favorites.

When to Call Your Dentist

Despite your best efforts, accidents happen. Call your dentist right away if:

  • A veneer breaks, cracks, chips or fractures
  • A veneer comes loose or falls off completely
  • You have sensitivity or pain in a veneered tooth
  • You notice staining or decay around the edge of a veneer
  • Food becomes trapped under a veneer

Don’t try to glue a cracked or fallen off veneer back into place yourself. Your dentist can examine it and determine if it can be reattached or needs to be replaced. Prompt attention can often save a damaged veneer.

Caring for Your Veneers Long-Term

While veneers are strong, they do require some care and maintenance:

  • Practice good oral hygiene – brush twice a day and floss daily
  • Use a soft bristle or electric toothbrush
  • Choose low-abrasion toothpaste
  • Avoid clenching or grinding your teeth
  • Wear a night guard if you grind teeth in your sleep
  • See your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings
  • Come in promptly if you damage a veneer

With proper home care and dental visits, veneers can last for 10 to 15 years or longer. Avoid biting nails, chewing on pens or opening packages with your teeth. All these habits can lead to cracks or fractures. In general, treat your veneered teeth gently and they’ll give you many years of a radiant smile.

Conclusion

Veneers are thin facings bonded to your teeth to improve their look. While durable, some care is needed when eating with veneers. Avoid very hard, chewy, crunchy or crusty foods which can loosen or damage veneers. Stick to a soft diet for the first couple weeks. Then slowly reintroduce some firmer foods, but in moderated amounts. Cut foods into small pieces and chew carefully with your back teeth. With time, you’ll get a feel for what you can comfortably eat with veneers. Proper oral hygiene and dental care will help your veneers last. Be gentle with your smile and your veneers can look beautiful for years to come.

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