If you have recently had your teeth bonded, you may wonder what you can do to take care of them until your follow-up appointment with your dentist. If so, use the following three tips to keep them intact, as well as avoid staining them.

Use A Straw To Drink Staining Beverages

If at all possible, you should avoid drinking beverages that can stain the bonding resin while it is still setting up. These include coffee, tea, and wine.

However, if you cannot go without your morning cup of coffee and your evening glass of wine, drink them through a straw. Doing so can direct the liquid towards the back of your mouth and away from the front of your teeth where stained resin would be most noticeable.

Make sure you take small sips. Then, swallow them right away so the beverage does not stay in your mouth where it can settle on your teeth.

Drink Only Cold Or Lukewarm Beverages

Especially during the first few days after having your teeth bonded, avoid drinking hot beverages. Instead, drink cold or lukewarm liquids. Excessive heat could melt and breakdown fresh resin, requiring you to have to have your teeth bonded again.

For ordinarily hot liquids, like coffee, let it cool to almost room temperature before drinking it, or drink it iced for a refreshing beverage that still gives you the flavor, as well as your daily caffeine fix.

Avoid Eating Hard Foods

Until the bonding resin has a chance to fully set up and harden, it remains soft and vulnerable. Because of this, you should avoid eating any hard or chewy foods until your cosmetic dentist tells you it is safe to do so.

Hard foods you should completely avoid include raw fruits and vegetables, such as carrots or apples. If you still wish to enjoy these foods, make sure you cook them until they have softened enough to bite into without using much force.

You may also want to avoid biting into chewy foods, like pizza crust. Instead, cut it into bite-size pieces before eating. Completely avoid chewy candies like bubble gum or taffy until your dentist tells you otherwise, as these may pull the resin away from your teeth.

Using the above tips can help you keep your newly bonded teeth stain-free and intact until your next appointment. If you have any questions or concerns, contact your cosmetic dentist to discuss them and ask for further advice on how to care for your teeth.