Will Peroxide Mouthwash Damage Porcelain Veneers?

I received porcelain veneers in January. My breath hasn’t been so fresh lately. I know that I should avoid mouthwash with alcohol as an ingredient. Two days ago, I made an alcohol-free mouthwash. I should have thought to ask before I made it. Is this solution okay for my veneers: 8 ounces of filtered and boiled water, 8 ounces of 3% hydrogen peroxide, and 2 tablespoons of sea salt? Not to worry. I won’t use it until I receive a reply from you. Thanks for your help. Jeannine

Jeannine,

It’s good that you know not to use an alcohol-based mouthwash when you have porcelain veneers. Although alcohol won’t loosen your them, it softens the bonding agent that secures the veneers to your teeth. And it causes ditching and staining around the edges of veneers.

Is Peroxide Mouthwash Safe for Veneers?

Your mouthwash recipe will cause other problems. Hydrogen peroxide is the active ingredient in your mouthwash. Although hydrogen peroxide bubbles, releases oxygen, and kills harmful bacteria in your mouth, it also kills many beneficial microbes. Without beneficial microbes, the harmful ones—including the yeast, candida albicans—will thrive.

It’s helpful to rinse your mouth with hydrogen peroxide for occasional or short-term use. But if you consistently use it—perhaps for two weeks—the candida albicans will grow, and you won’t have any healthy microbes in your mouth to stop it. You’ll get an oral yeast infection that causes the mucosal surfaces in your mouth to turn white and peel. Afterward, you’ll have raw, red, and painful patches in your mouth.

Alcohol-Free Mouthwash for Porcelain Veneers

If you want to use mouthwash, you can find several clearly-labeled alcohol-free brands. You can use them without damaging your porcelain veneers. Our advice is to brush your teeth and floss between them thoroughly. Diligent oral hygiene will minimize your need for mouthwash.

Brian LeSage, DDS, an accredited fellow of esthetic dentistry in Beverly Hills, sponsors this post.