Composite bonding is a simple procedure that involves your dentist altering the appearance of your teeth by using a tooth coloured resin. If you’re in pursuit of the perfect Hollywood smile (who isn’t?!), bonding can be used to improve slightly crooked teeth, fill gaps and even reshape your teeth with no orthodontic treatment needed. It’s a quick and painless procedure that can drastically improve the look of your smile with minimal time or hassle.
You can expect composite bonding to last between 5 to 7 years when looked after correctly; however, the resin used can be prone to staining over time and damaged further by certain lifestyle choices. We’ve put together this handy guide to help you look after your composite bonding and keep your smile sparkling for as long as possible.
What causes composite bonding to stain?
You may not realise that composite bonding resin can stain and become discoloured due to things you regularly eat and drink. For example, frequent tea, coffee or red wine drinkers may notice their bonding becoming stained much quicker than others! Other foods that may stain your teeth include curries, tomato-based sauces (yes, that means your favourite pasta) and fruit juices. We know that smoking can severely discolour the enamel on regular teeth and can have an even worse effect on bonded teeth. If you value your pearly whites, this is definitely one to avoid!
What to do if your composite bonding is stained:
Regular whitening toothpaste can be harsh and abrasive on your teeth; it can actually scratch the surface of your tooth enamel and cause your smile to become more susceptible to staining. Venneir® toothpaste is non-abrasive, avoids harsh chemicals and is gentle enough to be used on all dental work – including composite bonding, veneers and crowns. With daily use, you should see the whiteness of your teeth become restored to their natural shade. If your bonding is older (over 5-7 years), your dentist may recommend replacing it with new resin.
How to prevent composite bonding from staining:
As the saying goes, prevention is always better than cure. Here are some of the best ways to prevent staining of your composite bonding and keep your teeth sparkling for longer –
Brush your teeth at least twice a day (and again if you eat any particularly dark coloured food or drinks.)
Don’t forget to floss! A lot of staining can occur between teeth, and unfortunately, brushing alone won’t help this. Use floss or interdental brushes every day to get those hard to reach areas.
Use non-abrasive toothpaste such as Venneir® — it can help prevent stains from setting in in the first place. Not only that, it’s specially formulated for use on all dental work such as composite bonding, veneers, implants, and braces — treatments that regular whitening toothpaste can have little effect on.
Rinse your mouth by drinking water after each meal — this can help to remove some of the acids that linger on and around the surface of your teeth after eating.
Avoid regular consumption of tea, coffee, red wine and other dark or highly coloured foods that can cause staining.
Visit your dentist every six months for a regular oral hygiene appointment.
Hopefully, these tips will help keep your composite bonding looking fresh and white for as long as possible; we can’t wait to see your smile!
