Snap-on Teeth You Can Eat with: Our Recommendations

If you are not happy with your smile and our natural teeth you have likely started investigating options to whiten it, straighten it, both, or even more to get that beautiful smile you have always dreamed of. This may include dental implants, removable partial dentures, or even snap-on dentures to hide those missing teeth or just to get that Hollywood smile! For purely cosmetic changes the dentist can placed a permanent set of veneers. These come with a few downsides, though. Veneers are a permanent installation and once you have had a set you will always need some sort of covering over your teeth. Also, many do not want the invasiveness of a permanent installation or they might not be able to afford it. Whatever the reason, if veneers are not the right choice for you then there are temporary covers that provide a similar result, called snap-on teeth.

“A Snap-on smile is a wonderful way to try out a different tooth appearance before you make a permanent commitment to changing your smile. But make no mistake about it, it cannot be worn indefinitely or permanently. It must be removed daily so that your teeth can be cleaned and your gum tissue can breathe. I have seen cases where patients have worn a Snap-on smile for years, thinking is was a permanent solution. Because Snap-on teeth are bulky and don’t fit as well as other restorations, food and debris get under them. Removing a Snap-on smile after it has been worn for months without being removed for daily cleaning can result in grossly decayed teeth and gum disease.”

Dr. David Hudnall

Snap-on teeth, also known as a snap-on smile or clip-on veneers, give the appearance of a straight, white smile with no gaps. This is likely very different from what lies underneath. They are created by taking a dental impression of your teeth and using this impression to make a unique set of covers. A snap-on smile can be made of a variety of materials, but for cost and efficiency purposes they are usually made from resin or acrylic.

While veneers are thin and made of porcelain or resin that fits flush with the rest of your teeth, snap-on teeth are designed to go over your permanent teeth without any other modification. Therefore, snap-on teeth will make your teeth feel bigger and bulkier than normal. Snap-on teeth can be put in and taken out whenever you want.

While it is highly recommended that you remove them to sleep so that they can be properly cleaned overnight, you might want to keep them in as much as possible during the day. In some cases, it might even be embarrassing to have to remove them to perform a regular activity, such as eating. No one wants to be sitting down to a meal with friends or a date and have to take their teeth out. Fortunately, there are several options for snap-on teeth that can be worn at just about any time, including when eating.

Secret Veneers

These veneers are much more affordable and less invasive than the veneers you might get from your dentist office. The process is designed for you to take your own impressions but you can always take the kit to your dentist and have them help you with the fit if you are uncomfortable doing it yourself. Secret Veneers can be used for eating although they do state that the product will usually last longer if you do not eat with them in. The company keeps a master copy of your impressions on file so if you ever want to order a second set or a replacement due to damage then you can order another set quickly without having to do another fitting.

INSTAsmile

The clip-on veneers made by INSTAsmile can be purchased through the mail without any need to ever visit a dentist office. This may be a preferable situation for those who have severe anxiety about visiting the dentist or those who do not have any dental insurance to help offset the cost of getting a set of teeth covers. You can simply request a fitting kit, use the molds to take impressions of your teeth and then send them back to INSTAsmile to have a set of clip-on veneers made just for you.

INSTAsmile advises that you can absolutely eat and drink with their product in, though they do advise that you take their 12-month extended warranty if you intend to do so. This is a great offer that is not offered by many other companies. INSTAsmile will take your veneers back and replace them for any reason during the lifetime of this warranty. That gives you a lot of wiggle room to test the veneers out and figure out what will and won’t work.

Snap On Smile

The highest recommended product in snap on teeth is the covers by Snap On Smile. These removable covers are actually offered in many dental offices, which ensures a professional fit. The endorsement of the dentist is also a very valuable indicator of the quality of the product.

Snap On Smile is made from a resin that can be molded to be thin enough to minimally interfere with your normal oral operation but which is also strong enough to be worn all day with very little change in habits. Aside from the obvious limitation on sticky foods, it is not recommended that you eat hard foods or tough meats while wearing Snap On Smile. Things like a well-done steak, baguettes, and chicken wings have the potential to cause undue stress on the device and result in cracking. Other than that just about any food can be eaten while wearing Snap On Smile.

A Note on Care

There are a few things you should not do with your snap-on teeth regardless of whether or not they can be used for eating. It should not be surprising that it is strongly discouraged to chew gum while wearing snap-on teeth. Similarly, you should also avoid sticky or overly chewy foods like caramel and taffy. If you are worried about damaging your snap-on teeth then stick to softer foods like pasta in situations where you would rather not take them out and leave the crunchy snacking to when you are home alone and can take the covers out.

Though you can wear snap on teeth while eating it is a good idea to remove them and brush your teeth immediately after eating, as well as rinse the snap-on teeth themselves. If something gooey, sugary, or acidic gets stuck between the snap on teeth and your real teeth then the substance can sit there and cause damage to your teeth. Acids can eat away at the enamel while sugary carbs feed bacteria which then produce acid that also deteriorates the enamel.

You should remove your snap on teeth every night to properly brush and floss your teeth. The snap-on teeth should also be cleaned and then soaked overnight in a glass of water, preferably with a tablet of denture cleaner to kill bacteria and prevent buildup.