I’ve only had my dental bonding for under a week and it is starting to turn yellow. I was so happy with having my teeth look nice. Could I have done something to them? I have been taking care of them. I even switched to brushing with baking soda because I thought that would keep them even cleaner. I don’t know what went wrong. Can you help me?
Candace
Dear Candace,
Baking Soda actually will damage them simply because it is very abrasive. This will take off the polish that is protecting the dental bonding. I wouldn’t consider this a “your fault” type of thing. You weren’t instructed on how to care for them, which doesn’t command your dentist to me all that much. Because you haven’t had these for very long. I would go back to your dentist and ask him or her to repair the bonding.
Care of Your Dental Bonding
- Like you would do for the normal health and benefit of your teeth and oral health, brushing twice a day and flossing once a day.
- Regular maintenance with a hygienist who understands cosmetic dentistry, specifically dental bonding in your case. Procedures, such as using a power prophy jet or acidulated fluoride, can actually damage your bonding even though they are fine for your natural teeth. Alternately, there are polishing pastes that can shine up the bonding and help protect it. You’ll want to have them use those during your maintenance.
- Use a toothpaste specifically designed for cosmetic dental work. We generally recommend Supersmile toothpaste. Unlike whitening kinds of toothpaste you get at the store, this toothpaste safely cleans and whitens your teeth.
- Be aware that alcohol can prematurely weaken the bonding. Moderate alcohol consumption is fine. Heavy drinkers, however, will find they are lowering the lifespan of their dental work, as well as their liver
- On the topic of loosening bonding, there is a myth out there that sonic toothbrushes will damage the bonding. That is not true. You are fine to use your sonic toothbrush if you have one.
This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.