I just received porcelain veneers and want to take great care of them. I’m afraid to use over-the-counter mouthwash. I came up with my own concoction which I think will be safe for porcelain veneers, but wanted to run it by you first.
My mouthwash is made up of filtered water, hydrogen peroxide, and kosher salt. Will that be safe for the veneers?
Amber
Dear Amber,
I’ll say right off the bat that I’m thrilled you are taking the care of your porcelain veneers so seriously. Your smile was a huge investment and you certainly want it to last and look its best for many years.
While the mouthwash solution you’ve come up with will not harm your porcelain veneers, it will do some damage to your mouth.
Hydrogen peroxide does a good job killing bacteria. Unfortunately, it does such a good job it kills both the bad and the good bacteria. If done in the short term, periodically, you shouldn’t have a problem. However, if you did it regularly (say a couple of weeks) you will likely develop a yeast infection.
Caring for Your Porcelain Veneers
Cosmetic Toothpaste:
When it comes to any type of cosmetic work, such as porcelain crowns or porcelain veneers, you’ll want to use a toothpaste especially designed for them. Most cosmetic dentists will recommend Supersmile. If you feel that you just want a regular toothpaste, that is fine. Just be certain you don’t use a whitening toothpaste. These leave micro-scratches in your veneers which permanently damage them and cause them to pick up stains.
Mouthwash:
You can use over-the-counter mouthwash. The one ingredient you want to avoid is ANY mouthwash which contains alcohol. Be certain to check the ingredients. Alcohol will eat away at the bond which holds your porcelain veneers in place.
This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.
