Cleaning your clip-on veneers is important for ensuring your perfect smile remains in peak condition!

Snap-on veneers are resin shell that clips perfectly onto your existing teeth to give the appearance of a flawless smile. They are often used to mask chipped, misaligned, or stained teeth, and can even mask gaps in your teeth! While they may serve as an alternative to the teeth you already have, you must take care of them the same way you maintain your real teeth, as they are also susceptible to chips, stains, and bacterial buildup.

With good care, snap-on veneers should last between 3-5 years. Unlike true veneers, they are generally considered to be a short-term replacement for the real thing, although they have become popular for everyday usage. Depending on how you use them, they may last considerably longer.

Cleaning snap-on veneers should become part of your habitual process of wearing them. Whether you only wear them for special occasions or choose to wear them every day, make sure to use proper cleaning habits to ensure your veneers and your real teeth remain pristine. In this blog, we go over the essential tips for cleaning and maintaining your snap-on veneers.

The Basics About Cleaning Your Snap-On Veneers

Snap-on veneers only need to be worn when you want them, meaning that, unlike other dental appliances like retainers, they don’t necessarily need to be worn all of the time.

However, they should be cleaned and maintained in the same way that you take care of other dental appliances. Your hygiene habits should be structured around how you wear them.

Every time you put in or remove your clip-on veneers, it is highly recommended that you clean them. At a minimum, you should at least clean them every night after wear – if worn only periodically, you should clean them before placing them in your mouth. This ensures that you will extend their lifespan. Doing this is a relatively straightforward process:

• Veneers should be cleaned with mild soap and warm water. This can be applied with a soft toothbrush.
• Some products specifically designed to clean veneers can also be used, although these function the same way as soap and have no additional benefits.
• You should always remove veneers before you go to sleep, and take care to store them in the case that is provided with them. This case protects them not only from breaking but potential airborne bacteria.

Cleaning your snap-on veneers is a relatively simple process. Some of the most common mistakes that wearers experience revolve around substitutions in this process.

• Do NOT place your veneers in a dishwasher or in water hotter than 120 degrees.
• Do NOT use toothpaste to clean your veneers. These contain additives meant to break down plaque that can damage your teeth.
• Do NOT use mouthwash as a substitute for cleaning veneers.
• Do NOT use sharp or hard objects to clean your veneers, as these can break them, especially with excessive force.

These tips should serve as a guide for daily cleaning. However, you should also consider doing a deep clean every month or so to help extend their lifetime.

• With repeated wear, veneers may develop an odor or discoloration over time. It is recommended that you occasionally soak your veneers in a concentrated soap for an hour, and then gently brush them with a soft toothbrush. You can also use denture cleaners for this process.

Because of their build, snap-on veneers are designed against discoloration, keeping them a pristine white color for a long time. But just because they are white doesn’t mean that they are clean, and failing to properly maintain them can lead to excessive bacterial growth. Like your actual teeth, proper cleaning and maintenance are essential for preserving them for a long time.

Other Considerations for Snap-On Veneers

Snap-on smiles may take the appearance of teeth, but they aren’t quite as strong. Enamel, the substance that covers your teeth, is the strongest substance in the human body – even stronger than bone! Veneers, by comparison, are generally made from either a resin composite or porcelain. While these materials are durable, they are not resistant to damage and may break if handled improperly.

True to their name, snap-on smiles are meant to “snap” into your teeth – they shouldn’t require excessive force to fit into place. Because they can be damaged, it is imperative that you take caution when putting them in – applying too much pressure can not only break them but may indicate that they aren’t an ideal fit.

While wearing your veneers, you should avoid hot drinks, as these can warp them over time. Like your teeth, veneers can also be stained by coffee over time. You should also take care to remove them before eating unless you are eating soft foods such as yogurt or ice cream. Chewing on harder foods can lead to fractures and breaks, diminishing or ending the lifespan of the product.

In short, clip-on veneers may be built out of strong materials, but they are significantly less strong than the teeth in your mouth. They need to be handled with care, otherwise, they can warp and break, rendering them unusable and requiring a replacement. Getting a replacement pair of snap-on veneers can seem like an arduous task, but thankfully there are alternatives to visiting the dentist thanks to Dental Lab Direct.

Ensure You Get High-Quality Clip-On Veneers

Snap-on veneers are an affordable option for covering up issues that you may have with your smile. But when they are not properly made, they can actually hurt your gums and teeth. They should meet at the base of your gums, but not go any further – doing so can damage your gums and cause more dental problems as a result.

There are many DIY veneers currently being sold by unreputable vendors online that let you create them at home. These products have no oversight, and can even be made out of toxic materials. It is strongly recommended that when you purchase snap-on smiles, you order them from a reputable source.

Dental Lab Direct specializes in at-home dental appliances delivered straight to your doorstep. By cutting out the middle man, we’re able to deliver perfect-fitting dental appliances – such as partial dentures, mouth guards, retainers, and clip-on veneers – directly to you at affordable pricing. Simply take a dental impression of your teeth, send it back, and within only a few weeks a perfect set of clip-on veneers will arrive at your doorstep!

Are you ready to get back your perfect smile? Contact us today or visit our shop to browse our selection of offerings.