Porcelain inlays and onlays are often used in place of teeth fillings in order to fix tooth decay. Porcelain is often the material of choice because of how well it molds with natural teeth. Inlays and onlays are designed to last several years if they are regularly maintained. As a teen, getting this dental restoration can be an exciting process. However, poor maintenance will only attract bacteria and cause premature damage to your teen's dental restoration. Fortunately, there are a few tips that you can use to maintain and extend the life of the restoration.

Be Mindful of the Foods Your Teen Consumes

It is a lot more difficult to monitor what your child eats once they get older and become a teen. However, once they get their onlays and inlays installed, then diet becomes increasingly important in maintaining healthy dental restorations. Hard and sticky foods will slowly destroy your teen's restorations. Sticky foods will pull against the restoration while tougher foods can cause it to crack. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the foods they are eating. You should try to serve them foods that are much gentler on their teeth. You can do this by implementing a slow cooker. A slow cooker will break down foods until they are soft and easy to chew. You and your teen can still enjoy tasty meals with the use of a slow cooker. The next time your child wants to enjoy their favorite meat, you can place it in the slow cooker beforehand.

Instruct Your Teen to Remove Food Debris After Meals

Your teen most likely need inlays and onlays because of poor dental health. Just because they get this dental restoration, this does not mean their teeth are immune to further infection. Bacterial infection can form around and underneath the dental device if your teen is not careful. In order to prevent this, it is important for them to remove all food debris immediately after meals. Food that is allowed to sit on the tooth's surface will only eat away at it. Your teen can use a water flosser or oral rinse to help get rid of debris without using a toothbrush. This is especially important if you often eat meals outside the home.

Inlays and onlays will last depending on how much maintenance is put into them. Use these tips to help your teen ensure that their dental restorations remain in good health.