What Toothpaste Should I Use with Dental Implants?

Choosing the right toothpaste when you have natural teeth is hard enough but when you have dental implants or veneers, it can seem even harder. There is a lot of information out there about what toothpastes you should and shouldn’t use on zirconia implants. Some doctors say only specific brands are okay. Others say any brand is fine. So, what’s the right answer?

While being choosy with your toothpaste is typically a good idea (especially if you’ve had expensive work done), I only have one real suggestion: don’t get whitening toothpaste. Natural teeth need a mild abrasive to polish the enamel but things like veneers or implants don’t. Abrasives won’t whiten implants — they’ll only scratch and, in the longterm, damage them. Scratches on implants and veneers only open up the porcelain or zirconia to future staining. A lot of kinds of toothpaste are advertised as “whitening” products so keep make sure to double-check the packaging before buying.

If you want to be extra careful, try asking your dentist about using prescription toothpaste on your dental implants. We know that sounds scary but it really just ensures that there is nothing abrasive in the toothpaste that could damage the implant. If you don’t want to try prescription toothpaste, we recommend just staying clear of anything “whitening” or “tartar-control.”