I used teeth whitening toothpaste on my porcelain veneers. I’ve been doing it since June, about a month after I got veneers. I don’t remember my dentist telling me not to use the toothpaste, but I should have known better. I found out about the toothpaste damage because I saw an online ad about toothpaste for veneers. That was a clue that I was using the wrong brand. I used whitening toothpaste because I wanted to keep my veneers white. Have a ruined by $14,000 veneers trying to keep my teeth white? Thanks, Brianna from Tulsa, OK

Brianna,

Abrasive toothpaste has a long-term effect on porcelain veneers. If you used abrasive toothpaste a few times on your veneers, it wouldn’t be a concern. But after using it for several months, the surface of your veneers is probably scratched.

Supersmile toothpaste maximizes the lifespan of veneers. Ordinary toothpaste can wear away the bonding composite between the porcelain and the tooth.

Rembrandt Low Abrasion Whitening Toothpaste with Citroxain is another option, but it isn’t easy to find. The Deeply White and Intense Stain toothpaste contain formulas that might be abrasive.

How Can You Keep Porcelain Veneers White?

You can keep your porcelain veneers white by flossing between your teeth and brushing them with toothpaste designed for cosmetic dentistry work, like Supersmile toothpaste. Regular dental cleaning and exam appointments by a dentist and hygienist who are trained to care for veneers will keep your smile intact.  Even some dental tools will damage the glaze on porcelain veneers, so your hygienist must know how to clean them safely. Porcelain veneers are virtually stain resistant.

If your veneers get stained or dull, a dentist has gentle tools and polishing paste to restore the luster of your smile. Traditional teeth whitening methods, even from a dentist, don’t work on veneers.

Schedule an appointment with your cosmetic dentist to examine your veneers and check for scratches. Although it might be embarrassing to admit you’ve been using abrasive toothpaste, it’s best to get the bonding composite and your veneers checked out before any damage gets worse.

 

Ryan Perry, DDS, of Baton Rouge, sponsors this post.