What Is the Best Toothpaste for Porcelain Veneers?

Individuals who want to quickly and dramatically enhance the appearance of their smile often rely on porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers conceal a wide range of cosmetic blemishes so that patients can enjoy teeth that looks bright, white, and straight.

Porcelain veneers are strong and durable, so treatment results should last for many years, provided patients do their part to care for their prosthetics. Just like untreated teeth, teeth with porcelain veneers need to be brushed regularly. Following treatment at Boston Prosthodontics Dental Group, we help our Boston, MA, patients select the best toothpaste for porcelain veneers care.

Avoid Abrasive Toothpastes

Porcelain veneers create a strong bond with the facial surface of the teeth, so they will not shift out of place. Since they are bonded in place, they can be brushed like the natural teeth, which makes aftercare easy. However, our Boston patients need to be careful about what type of toothpaste they are using to clean their porcelain veneers. More specifically, patients need to consider the abrasiveness of their toothpaste.

Many toothpastes use abrasive ingredients like baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to clean the teeth. These are effective, but they can also be rough on the teeth, and especially rough on the ceramic surface of porcelain veneers. With repeated use, abrasive toothpastes can create small scratches or imperfections that will compromise the appearance of porcelain veneers.

Gel toothpastes tend to be a better choice for porcelain veneers. These products are smoother and softer than pastes, and less likely to damage veneers. Toothpastes that are advertised as “smooth” or “gentle” should also be appropriate.

Cavity Protection Is a Must

Porcelain veneers conceal the natural teeth to perfect the appearance of the smile, but it is important that patients remember that their natural teeth are still there, and they are susceptible to decay. If the teeth develop cavities or more extensive tooth decay, porcelain veneers will need to be removed so the condition can be treated.

To protect the teeth, patients should look for a toothpaste that fights against cavities. Fluoride is the best ingredient for cavity protection. We always recommend that patients brush their teeth with a toothpaste containing fluoride following porcelain veneers treatment.

Pass on Whitening Toothpastes

Whitening toothpastes are extremely popular. The teeth can become discolored fairly easily, and whitening toothpastes offer an easy way to maintain a bright smile. Unfortunately, the bleaching agents that are used in whitening toothpastes do not work on the materials used to fabricate porcelain veneers. Not only that, but whitening toothpastes contain highly abrasive ingredients that can actually damage veneers and compromise their appearance.

Consider Specially Formulated Toothpastes

If a person is careful about reading ingredients, it should be easy to find a toothpaste that is suitable for porcelain veneers. However, if a patient wants to make the process faster and easier, they can always opt for a specially formulated toothpaste. There are many toothpastes that are made specifically to care for porcelain veneers and dental restorations.

Contact Us

If you are unhappy with your smile and would like to find out if porcelain veneers are right for you, contact our team at Boston Prosthodontics Dental Group at your earliest convenience. You can also schedule an appointment with us by calling our office at (617) 582-2479.