Do veneers cause bad breath?

“I got veneers and now I have bad breath, why?” is one of the most frequent questions on Dr. Khalid Saeed's Instagram, which is why he made a video about it. Many people assume the veneers are to blame, so they fear treatment or regret it. In fact, the odour comes from bacteria living in plaque and inflamed tissue, and the place they hide is usually the junction between the veneer and the gum, not the veneer itself.

Veneer-related causes are specific: rough, overhanging or gapped margins, food trapped between the veneer and the neighbouring tooth, leftover cement at the gum, or gum inflammation because cleaning is difficult. There are also general causes unrelated to veneers, such as an uncleaned tongue, dry mouth, smoking and some sinus or stomach problems. So the source must be identified before any decision. Read our page on bad breath after veneers for details.

At Celebrity Smile Center in Duhok, Dr. Khalid Saeed examines the veneer margins and gums, then decides: a deep clean and better daily care if the margins are good; treatment of inflamed gums, where the Waterlase laser may help; or replacing veneers with poor margins, because cleaning will not stop plaque returning. When designing new veneers he focuses on precise margins that are easy to clean; they are made at Creative Art Dental Lab in Dubai.

To prevent it: floss or use interdental brushes daily around veneers, clean your tongue gently, drink water, avoid smoking and keep regular cleanings. See a dentist promptly if food keeps getting trapped or your gums bleed. If you live outside Duhok, send close-up photos to Dr. Khalid.

• Ceramic does not absorb odours
• Overhanging or open margins trap plaque
• Leftover cement at the gum causes inflammation
• Skipping floss after veneers is a common cause
• Clean your tongue, drink water, avoid smoking
• Food trapping or bleeding means a check-up