Will regular toothpastes ruin your dental veneers?
Dr. B. Kanagasabapathy
[M.D.S. (Ortho), Fellow ICOI]
Dental veneers are generally utilized to fix and conceal cosmetic imperfections like chips, cracks, jagged edges, deep intrinsic stains and others on front teeth. Moreover, the custom-made shells are also useful in repairing teeth with worn-down enamel. If you had received veneers earlier, you would be aware of their benefits, and aftercare instructions dentists prescribe.
It is vital to maintain good oral hygiene to keep the veneers clean, bright and white. At the same time, you should use the right toothpaste for veneers.
Among the bewildering variety of products available, you should use the right products for your veneered teeth. The information our dentists have shared in this blog post will help you to do that.
What are the best kind of toothpastes available for porcelain veneers?
The mainstream toothpastes most people use have whitening formulations and contain abrasive compounds to scrub away stains from the teeth surfaces. On the contrary, they are quite harsh for dental veneers. If you use teeth whitening agents, they will affect the texture, tarnishing the appearance.
So it would help if you switched to safe toothpastes for veneers. For patients who receive veneers from our clinic, our dental doctors recommend the following toothpastes:
1) Gel Toothpaste
Gel toothpastes are made from silica which is less abrasive. Unlike regular toothpastes, gel toothpastes do not produce more foam. When you brush your teeth with this toothpaste, it keeps the smooth texture of your teeth. It implies that gel toothpastes are less likely to contain abrasive agents that cause micro-scratches.
Hence it is recommended to use gel toothpastes for veneered teeth and other teeth repaired with restorations like crowns and bridges.
2) Non-whitening Toothpaste
The conventional whitening toothpastes available in pharmacies and medical stores contain coarse substances like pyrophosphates, hydrogen peroxide, etc. They are powerful to break stains on the enamel layer of a tooth and keep your natural teeth whitish.
However, the veneers are made of delicate materials. Therefore, the beaching agents will damage the thin shell if you brush your teeth with such whitening toothpastes. Moreover, the shine on the porcelain veneers might also be removed with repeated usage of whitening toothpaste. Hence we recommend non-whitening toothpastes that are devoid of any coarse bleaching agents.
In general, the veneers are resistant to stains, so the non-whitening toothpastes can also aid in keeping the veneered teeth white, bright & clean.
3) Fluoridated Toothpaste
Fluoride toothpaste is safe and a great option for veneered teeth. First, it is because fluoride is used as an ingredient in various mainstream toothpastes irrespective of the brands. It is due to fluoride’s effectiveness in strengthening teeth, preventing cavities, and reducing the acidic compounds that oral bacteria create.
Even though the veneers are impervious to microbial invasion, the underlying natural portion of the teeth is. Right?
Hence fluoride toothpaste will cater for your needs. The fact that this substance is not abrasive is an added benefit. Therefore, you should not worry that it may harm the veneers.
Bottom line
Even though veneers are highly durable, they are not stringent as your natural teeth. When the thin shells encounter a break or crack, it acts as the breeding ground for oral bacteria to pile up and infect the tooth. So you should accustom certain activities to ensure the longevity of veneers.
Switching to gentle toothpastes is an instance. For more details, contact our Tirunelveli dental clinic here.
