How To Care For Newly Bonded Teeth
If you have just had your teeth repaired with composite bonding, you need to adjust your daily routine. Bonded teeth are not as strong as your other teeth. This means that you need to take extra care when living with bonded teeth.
Composite bonding is weaker than tooth enamel
While living with your newly bonded teeth, be aware that composite bonding is weaker than tooth enamel. Tooth enamel is hard, even harder than bone. So the bonded part of your tooth will break more easily than the non-bonded part.
To ensure that your bonded teeth stay in good condition for as long as possible, remember the following advice.
Quit chewing on hard objects
Some people have a habit of chewing on hard objects such as ice and the ends of pens. But these habits will increase the likelihood that your bonded tooth will break. If your bonded tooth chips or breaks, your appearance will suffer, and you'll need to spend money on repairing the damaged bonding. Try chewing gum whenever you get the urge to chew ice or bite your nails.
Be careful when chewing hard foods
Although you can stop habits like chewing ice, you can't stop eating hard or tough foods completely. Some hard foods, like apples and fresh vegetables, can be hard or tough to chew, but they contain important vitamins and nutrients. So instead of avoiding hard foods altogether, be aware of which teeth you use to chew those foods. Try to use your non-bonded teeth as much as possible.
You can also change the way that you eat certain hard foods. For instance, instead of using your bonded teeth to bite the corn off a corn cob, cut the corn off the cob with a knife first. Adjusting the way you eat will help to preserve your bonded teeth.
Be aware that staining can make bonding stand out
Both tooth enamel and composite bonding can stain. But composite bonding is more porous than tooth enamel, which means that bonding will stain more quickly than tooth enamel over time. Keep this in mind when choosing to consume anything that is rich in color, like pasta sauce, mustard, coffee, or even alcoholic beverages like red wine and beer.
Smoking will also stain composite bonding. So try to cut down on foods that stain your teeth. If possible, quit habits like smoking cigarettes or cigars. When eating or drinking anything that might stain your teeth or composite bonding, keep a glass of water ready. You can then rinse your mouth out between mouthfuls to minimize the staining molecules on your teeth.
Composite bonding is a fast and inexpensive way to repair damaged teeth. But make sure you are ready to make some adjustments to your eating habits to avoid staining or damaging your bonded teeth.
Ask your dentist for more tips to make sure you take care of your newly bonded teeth.
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