Tag Archives: teeth whitening porcelain veneers

Is Peroxide Good for a Mouthwash Against Dental Office Germs?

I read online that hydrogen peroxide can disinfect dental office germs like coronavirus. I have a teeth whitening appointment before I get veneers in August. So, I looked online and found a do-it-yourself mouth rinse recipe that includes hydrogen peroxide. My only concern about rinsing my mouth with it is that it will only be helpful until I get veneers. I know alcohol-based mouthwash can loosen the bonding on veneers, but what about peroxide? Thank you. Cassie

Cassie,

It’s good that you have a dentist who understands you must whiten your teeth before getting porcelain veneers to ensure they match your whitened teeth. Whitening teeth after getting veneers can make them look darker than your teeth.

While the American Dental Association recommends at least a one-and-a-half percent concentration, some dental offices use about four or five percent rinses. Alcohol-based mouthwash can weaken the bonding behind porcelain veneers and cause stains. Still, weakening porcelain veneers’ bonding is not the only concern when choosing a mouthwash.

A Rutger’s School of Dental Medicine study published results on mouthwash and its effect on coronavirus. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency lists hydrogen peroxide as a disinfectant for COVID-19.

Still, if you get porcelain veneers, you must be cautious about which toothpaste and mouthwash you use. But even if you do not have porcelain veneers, regularly using hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash can cause other problems.

What Are the Effects of Hydrogen Peroxide Mouthwash?

The effects of hydrogen peroxide mouthwash include:

  • It kills many harmful microorganisms
  • Long-term use kills healthy bacteria, too
  • Long-term use causes yeast (candida albicans) to thrive

Regular use of peroxide as mouthwash can result in an oral yeast infection. Your oral issue will turn white, peel, red, and become painful.

If you get an oral yeast infection, your dentist will recommend taking oral antifungal tablets, lozenges, or using a liquid for seven to fourteen days to eliminate the infection. You must complete treatment to prevent the infection from recurring.

Teeth Whitening Gel or Baking Soda to Brighten Your Dull Veneers?

Are you thinking about using teeth whitening or baking soda to brighten your porcelain veneers? What you use to clean your veneers can maximize—or minimize—their lifespan.

The Properties of Porcelain Veneers

Well-made porcelain veneers replicate tooth enamel. Although porcelain beautifully mimics enamel, the properties of porcelain are different. The dental ceramics used to make veneers are harder than tooth enamel. And veneers are stain resistant. So how can you whiten them?

Teeth Whitening

Photo of upper and lower teeth whitening trays in a blue case; for information on teeth alignment from the office Plano dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.
Teeth-whitening treatments won’t brighten porcelain veneers

Professional bleaching gel is made of carbamide peroxide, which penetrates through tooth enamel into the dentin in teeth. The gel lightens the natural pigmentation in your teeth. But porcelain veneers are colorfast—teeth whitening won’t change their color.

Baking Soda or Teeth-Whitening Toothpaste?

Powdered baking soda is abrasive. If used for an extended period, it can scratch tooth enamel or the surface of porcelain veneers. Additionally, most types of toothpaste—including those with teeth whitening properties—are too abrasive to use for an extended period on cosmetic dental work. At the margin of your gumline and the veneers, abrasive pastes can wear away the composite bonding that secures the veneers to your teeth.

Many advanced cosmetic dentists recommend low-abrasion toothpaste for any cosmetic work, including porcelain veneers. Supersmile® toothpaste is gentle on teeth and cosmetic work.

Bottom line: Don’t use powdered baking soda or teeth-whitening gels or pastes on your porcelain veneers. Long-term use will create scratches that attract stains. Use a low-abrasion brand of toothpaste that is recommended by your cosmetic dentist.

If Your Porcelain Veneers Are Dull or Stained

If porcelain veneers are stain resistant, why do yours look dull? Several factors can cause veneers to look dark and detract from your smile, including:

  • Bacteria leaking behind the cosmetic work
  • Excess dental cement that your dentist didn’t thoroughly remove when bonding the veneers to your teeth
  • Damage that results when a hygienist uses dental instruments or chemicals that work well on tooth enamel but not on veneers

It’s best to determine the cause of your dull or stained veneers. Teeth whitening gels or pastes won’t help. You can schedule an appointment for an exam with an advanced cosmetic dentist. Your cosmetic dentist might be able to polish your veneers and enhance their gloss. He or she will explain your options.

Miranda Lacy, DDS, a female dentist in Plano, TX, sponsors this post.

Is it okay to use free teeth whitening on my porcelain veneers?

Is it okay to use free teeth whitening on my porcelain veneers? I don’t want to put anything on them that could mess up the veneers. I smoke a lot and thought I would be able to stop smoking by now. This is the 3rd year I’ve had veneers and they are starting to pick up stains. Instead of paying to have my dentist whiten them I wonder if I can do it myself. I found a promotion for a free teeth whitening kit as a starter and I plan on cancelling the subscription before my credit card gets charged for an ongoing supply. Brooke

Brooke,

Your porcelain veneers can neither be whitened with free teeth whitening nor any other type of teeth whitening.

An Alternative to Teeth Whitening for Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are colorfast and bleaching them won’t remove the stains. They are also virtually stain resistant, but if they are getting stained by smoking, there are some things you should and should not do:

  • Avoid brushing your veneers with abrasive, whitening toothpaste. The toothpaste can crack the glaze on your veneers and cause them to stain more easily.
  • Only have your teeth cleaned by a dentist and dental hygienist who are specifically trained in caring for and cleaning porcelain veneers. There are dental tools specifically designed to be gentle on veneers and keep the glaze intact.
  • Keep your regularly scheduled appointments for dental cleanings and exams.
  • Ask your cosmetic dentist to polish surface stains off your veneers.

Even on natural teeth, free teeth whitening might not be effective. The contents of the bleaching gel determine if it will clean your teeth. Carbamide peroxide is the whitening agent in professional-strength bleaching gel. In order to get predictable results, teeth whitening should be supervised by a dentist.

Only ask a trained cosmetic dentist for help removing stains from your porcelain veneers. Don’t use your free teeth whitening on them.

This post is sponsored by Plano female dentist Dr. Miranda Lacy.