It’s easy to think veneers don’t need care or maintenance at first. Since the shells lack enamel and won’t decay, you could assume they’ll never fail or fall off. However, there’s honestly such a thing as the best type of toothpaste for veneers. Using it will ensure your shells stay strong and last many years to come. If you’d like to learn more, just read this primer on the matter from your local Jonesboro dentist.
Toothpaste Can Affect Veneers
While veneers are stain-resistant and decay-proof, such qualities don’t make them invincible. Your toothpaste could make the shells stop working if you aren’t careful.
Indeed, the wrong toothpaste could reduce your treatment lifespan. A brand using poor materials would damage your veneers and their underlying teeth, taking years off the shells. You’d then need to spend time and money on follow-up dental care, replacement veneers, etc.
Qualities of Great Veneer Toothpastes
With all that said, you can always get toothpaste that helps your veneers. Just make sure the type you get has one (or more) of the following qualities:
Gel-Based
If your toothpaste has harsh ingredients (hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, etc.), it’ll quickly wear down your veneers. Therefore, make sure the type you use is gel-based.
Gel-based toothpaste is quite gentle and won’t harm your veneers. Instead, it’ll preserve the shells’ structure and brighten your smile. You can trust it to protect your oral health properly without ruining your restorations.
Fluoride-Filled
Though veneers can’t get cavities, the teeth beneath them still can. That means you should use a toothpaste filled with plenty of fluoride.
If the tooth under your veneer decays, a dentist has to remove the shell to treat you. That removal would undo your treatment results and force you to start from scratch. To avoid this outcome, you should brush veneered teeth with fluoridated toothpaste. This product’s fluoride prevents decay and cavities by keeping your enamel strong and healthy.
Non-Whitening
Even if a whitening toothpaste sounds appealing, it won’t do your veneers any good. The better option is to get and use a non-whitening brand instead.
You see, a whitening toothpaste wouldn’t keep your shells bright and white. Its abrasive texture would instead scratch the veneers’ porcelain surfaces, thus ruining your smile’s good looks. You’ll want to avoid that scenario by using a non-whitening toothpaste that isn’t too rough.
The best type of toothpaste for veneers isn’t hard to find. If you remember the points above, you can quickly get it to maintain your treatment results.
About the Author
Dr. Shane Smith is a dentist based in Jonesboro, AR, having earned his DDS from the University of Tennessee’s Health Science Center. In his time treating flawed smiles, he’s worked at dental offices all across Arkansas, Missouri, and Memphis. That experience has made him an expert in preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, as well as emergency oral care. Today, Dr. Smith practices at his self-titled clinic and is reachable on his website and by phone at (870)-932-2644.