3 Tips For Taking Care Of Your Teeth A Few Days After Being Bonded

After having your teeth bonded, you may wonder how to take care of them, besides keeping up with your normal brushing and flossing regimen. If so, use the tips below to help take care of your bonded teeth in the days following your procedure.

1. Avoid Staining Foods and Beverages

When your teeth are first bonded, the composite resin is used that will need a few days to fully harden. Until then, the bonding agent is porous, causing it to soak in any liquids that come into contact with it. Because of this, you should avoid any foods and beverages that could stain the resin. Eating foods such as blueberries and drinking such beverages as coffee or wine could permanently stain the resin and cause ugly spots on your teeth.

However, if you cannot go without drinking your morning cup of coffee or an evening glass of wine, there is a way around it. Use a straw to drink the liquid, being careful to aim the end as far back in your mouth as possible without choking.

2. Refrain From Eating Hard Foods

Along with staining foods and beverages, you should also avoid eating hard foods until the resin fully sets up and bonds to your teeth's enamel. While the resin is still soft, any hard object or increase in pressure could crack the composite or chip the surface. You should also refrain from biting your fingernails or chewing on a pencil. The same amount of pressure is often used when performing these actions, which could damage your bonding agent and require a follow-up to fix the damage.

3. Rinse Your Mouth After Eating

No matter what you eat during your meals, acids from the foods and beverages coat your teeth. When the bonding resin is new, these acids could eat away at and weaken the composite. Especially if you are not able to brush your teeth right after eating, rinse your mouth with water to help dilute and remove as much of the acid as possible. Swish the water in your mouth a few times to make sure that you rinse between your teeth. Then, as soon as you can, brush and floss your teeth as normal.

Using the above tips can help keep your bonded teeth clear and intact until the composite fully hardens. If you have any questions, contact a dental office like Dental Implant & Cosmetic, PC that can give you personalized advice on caring for your newly bonded teeth.