What can I eat after getting veneers?

Day one: wait until the numbness has gone completely so you do not bite your lip or cheek. After that you can eat, starting with softer food such as rice, soup, eggs and pasta, especially if you notice mild cold sensitivity, which is common at first. The cement under final veneers is light-cured in the clinic, so there is no long waiting period.

Temporary veneers are different: if you have temporaries between preparation and fitting, they are much weaker. Avoid chewing gum and sticky sweets, do not bite into crusty bread or apples with your front teeth, and brush gently. If a temporary comes loose, contact the clinic. This phase is usually short, as the final veneers for Dr. Khalid's patients are made at Creative Art Dental Lab in Dubai on a pre-planned schedule.

Long term: ceramic veneers are strong, but not stronger than common sense. What breaks natural teeth breaks veneers too: cracking nuts, seeds or bones with your teeth, chewing ice, opening bottles or packets with your teeth, biting nails or pens. Cut apples, corn on the cob and tough meat and chew with your side teeth. Tea and coffee usually do not stain E.max veneers.

If your bite feels high or one tooth touches before the others, do not get used to it; return for a small adjustment, because an unbalanced bite can chip a veneer later. If you grind at night, a night guard matters. More in our veneers aftercare guide, and you can ask Dr. Khalid about any food you are unsure of.

• Wait for the numbness to wear off
• Soft foods for the first few days
• No gum or sticky sweets with temporaries
• Cut hard food and chew with side teeth
• No ice, bones or opening packets with teeth