How to look after veneers, every day and for years
Veneers don't decay, but the teeth and gums around them can. A simple routine protects both.
Medically reviewed by Dt. Hüseyin Yavuz Özbek, dentist (prosthetics and implant surgery) · Updated October 2026Brush for two minutes twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth once a day, avoid biting hard objects, wear a night guard if you grind, and see a dentist regularly. Gum disease and decay at the edges are the main threats to veneers and crowns, and both are largely preventable.
Every day
The Oral Health Foundation's advice for crowns applies to veneers too:
- Brush for two minutes, last thing at night and one other time during the day, with a fluoride toothpaste
- Clean between your teeth once a day with floss or interdental brushes
- Avoid biting hard objects, such as ice
- Visit your dental team regularly
Habits to change
- Opening packets or bottles with your teeth
- Biting nails, pens or ice
- Grinding or clenching at night without a guard
- Smoking, which stains composite and harms the gums
If you grind your teeth
Grinding can chip and crack veneers. The NHS says a dentist may recommend a mouth guard or splint, worn at night, to protect your teeth from damage. If you know you grind, tell us before treatment, and plan for a night guard afterwards.
Watch your gums
Veneers and crowns sit right at the gum line. The NHS lists the signs of gum disease: gums that bleed when you brush, floss or eat hard foods, and gums that are swollen, red or sore. See a dentist if you notice them; healthy gums keep veneers looking good.
Check-ups back in the UK
Register with a UK dentist and hygienist and keep regular appointments. Take a written summary of your treatment: which teeth, veneer or crown, the material and the shade. It helps any dentist look after your teeth and repair them if needed.
Something not right? Sensitivity that gets worse rather than better, a veneer that feels loose or a bite that feels high: contact us straight away and see your UK dentist.
Common questions
What toothpaste should I use with veneers?
A normal fluoride toothpaste. Very abrasive whitening pastes can dull composite, so ask your dentist if you have composite veneers.
Can I drink tea and coffee with veneers?
Yes. Porcelain resists staining well. Composite stains more easily, so rinse with water afterwards and keep up polishing at check-ups.
Will a UK dentist look after veneers done in Turkey?
Yes, any dentist can check and clean around veneers. Take a written summary of what was done, including the material, to your first appointment.
What if a veneer comes loose?
Keep it safe, avoid chewing on that side, and contact your clinic. A loose veneer can often be re-bonded if it isn't damaged.
Sources
- Oral Health Foundation — Dental crowns (brushing, cleaning between teeth, avoiding hard objects)
- Oral Health Foundation — Veneers (daily cleaning and check-ups)
- NHS — Teeth grinding (mouth guard or splint at night)
- NHS — Gum disease (signs to look out for)
Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.
Not sure what your teeth need?
Send us a few photos of your smile. A dentist looks at them and tells you plainly whether you need veneers, crowns, whitening, bonding, or nothing at all.