I had dental bonding done on four of my front teeth about a week ago. For that short time, I was happy because my teeth looked straight for the first time. It was fun to smile. Now they are turning yellow. I don’t know if the toothpaste I’ve been using caused a problem. I got a whitening toothpaste because I wanted to keep them as white as possible. Was that the wrong thing to do? Is there some kind of bad reaction between that toothpaste and the dental bonding? Is there a special toothpaste I should be using?
Kelly
Dear Kelly,
I’m sorry this happened to you. There is not a chemical type of reaction between the toothpaste and your dental bonding. However, it is possible that it did damage the whitening. Most over-the-counter whitening toothpastes have abrasives in them. This will scratch the bonding and leave it vulnerable to picking up stains. It sounds like your dentist did not give you instructions on how to care for your bonding. Because of that and how soon it has been since you had the bonding done, I feel he (or she) should fix this at their cost.
One thing that will help you is to know what to brush your teeth with. Regular toothpaste is fine. Over-the-counter whitening toothpaste is not safe, which you’ve already learned. However, there is a safe whitening toothpaste that is specifically designed for cosmetic dental work. If you want a whitening toothpaste I would recommend you use Supersmile. It will be safe for your bonding. One other thing to be aware of is not to use either baking soda, which is also abrasive, or mouthwash that contains alcohol.
Dental bonding should last a few years. If you decide that you want something more permanent, then you could get porcelain veneers. These last significantly longer than bonding, though you should be aware they are more expensive.
This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.