Brightening Your Dental Veneers: Can You Whiten Veneers? (2024)

If you have veneers but are starting to get unhappy with their color, you may wonder if you can whiten them.

The short answer is that whitening veneers is not possible. Keep reading to find out why and what you can do instead.

Whitening Natural Teeth vs. Veneers

Teeth whitening is a simple process that you can do either at home or in the dentist's office. In most cases, the dentist or you will use a bleaching gel that contains hydrogen peroxide. This gel is applied to the teeth and then activated with a UV light. The active ingredient in the gel removes the stains on the teeth and whitens them.

Brightening Your Dental Veneers: Can You Whiten Veneers? (1)


Things are a bit different when it comes to veneers. That's because veneers are made of porcelain or composite resin, materials that do not respond to bleaching agents in the same way that natural teeth do.

If you have veneers and try to whiten your teeth, you will get uneven results. The bleaching agent will remove the stains from your natural teeth, but not from the veneers.

Options for Whitening Veneers

So, what can you do if your veneers are discolored?

Well, one option is to have the veneers replaced. This can be costly and time-consuming, but it will give you a brand-new, white smile. This option is actually recommended if your veneers are old and approaching the end of their lifespan.

Another option is to have your veneers resurfaced. This process involves removing a small amount of the veneer material, and then polishing and glazing the surface to improve its appearance. However, the veneer surface can only be lightened a certain amount and not to the same degree as natural teeth whitening.

Brightening Your Dental Veneers: Can You Whiten Veneers? (2)


But, the best and most effective way of whitening veneers is to make sure they don't get stained in the first place.

Practice good oral hygiene, avoid foods and drinks that can stain your teeth (such as coffee, tea, red wine, tomatoes, curry, etc.), and do not smoke.

It's also important to schedule regular check-ups and cleanings with your dentist. Your dentist can remove surface stains from your veneers, and check for any issues that may be affecting their appearance.

Do You Want to Enhance the Appearance of Your Veneers? We Can Help!

While veneers can't be whitened like natural teeth, you have other ways to restore the appearance of your smile. At Mary Qian Dental Group, we can help you determine the best treatment for your case. We will make sure that you will leave our office with a healthy and happy smile.

Getting in touch with us is extremely easy too. You can fill out the online contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Or you can call us at (650) 327-3172 and tell us what you need.

Brightening Your Dental Veneers: Can You Whiten Veneers? (2024)

FAQs

Brightening Your Dental Veneers: Can You Whiten Veneers? ›

A: Yes, some types of porcelain veneers can be whitened using a professional bleaching treatment. However, it's important to consult with your dentist first before undergoing this procedure.

How do you whiten cosmetic veneers? ›

However, if your veneers and crowns develop minor stains that you wish to remove, here are five ways to deal with them.
  1. Use non-abrasive polishing toothpaste to clean your teeth. ...
  2. Over-The-Counter Whitening Products. ...
  3. Brushing Immediately After Consuming Tooth-Staining Foods. ...
  4. Quit Smoking. ...
  5. Professional Dental Cleaning.

Will hydrogen peroxide whiten veneers? ›

While hydrogen peroxide won't change the color of veneers, using high concentrations or applying it too frequently can damage the surrounding gum tissue and the natural teeth adjacent to the veneers.

What to do if veneers turn yellow? ›

Whiten my veneers

Quitting smoking, avoiding certain drinks, and limiting your alcohol intake are all lifestyle choices to whiten your veneers. As far as an artificial teeth whitening process goes, veneers cannot be bleached like regular teeth.

What happens if you use whitening toothpaste on veneers? ›

In fact, many ingredients in whitening toothpastes are abrasive and can be too harsh on porcelain veneers. With repeated used, whitening toothpastes can create areas of damage on the surface of porcelain veneers, which can actually trap pigmentation and cause veneers to look discolored.

Can you whiten existing veneers? ›

Porcelain and composite veneers can be whitened with professional bleaching treatments, but this may damage the underlying tooth structure if done incorrectly. Furthermore, the results of even a successful treatment may not last very long due to the porous nature of porcelain and composite materials.

Is there any way to whiten composite veneers? ›

While you can't whiten composite resin veneers, that doesn't mean that you can't improve the look of your veneers. Professional cleanings can help to remove surface stains, so remember to visit your dentist every six months. If your veneers are very discoloured, your dentist may recommend replacing them.

Does baking soda whiten veneers? ›

Stay Away from Toothpastes with Baking Soda

Toothpaste often comes with baking soda listed as one of its main ingredients. That's because it whitens natural teeth better. But for veneers, baking soda serves as an abrasive ingredient that can cause discoloration or early deterioration.

What is the best toothpaste to use on veneers? ›

Best Non-Abrasive Toothpaste for Veneers

For instance, Rembrandt Intense Stain Whitening Toothpaste is an excellent choice for people with veneers. It contains no peroxide, which can damage the veneers and includes a blend of micro-polishing agents to remove surface stains without scratching.

Does swishing hydrogen peroxide whiten teeth? ›

A simple hydrogen peroxide mouthwash may help remove mild stains. However, a person should avoid leaving hydrogen peroxide solutions on their teeth for extended periods. For people who have darker stains, stronger whitening options are available both over the counter and from a dentist.

What to do if your veneers are too white? ›

If your porcelain veneers are too white, the only way to correct the issue is to get new veneers. Your current dentist might be willing to provide you with a discount on new veneers.

How do you fix discolored veneer? ›

Discolouration can be resolved by simply getting new veneers put in. It's an effective solution, but it can be a little more expensive than you'd like. Replacing your veneers early is a sign of poor dental hygiene and a lack of care regarding your teeth.

How do you keep veneers bright? ›

The excessive force of teeth grinding can damage veneers. Watch Out for Foods and Drinks That Stain — To maintain your bright new smile, limit your consumption of staining drinks and foods, such as berries, tea, red wine, and coffee. You can still enjoy them in moderation, but rinse your mouth with water after.

Can peroxide whiten veneers? ›

It's important to understand that veneers are not like natural teeth. Unlike natural teeth, veneers cannot absorb whitening agents like hydrogen peroxide.

Does Colgate whitening pen work on veneers? ›

A: Unfortunately, this will not work on crowns or veneers. According to Colgate, the Optic White Pen will only work on natural teeth.

What happens if you use whitening strips on veneers? ›

The short answer is yes, teeth whitening strips can damage porcelain veneers if used incorrectly or too often. This is because the chemicals in the whitening strips can cause discoloration of the veneer itself and may even strip away the veneer's protective coating over time.

Can you whiten temporary veneers? ›

You should also take care not to eat or drink too many stain-causing foods, like berries, red wine, coffee and tea. This is because veneers can still stain, and they cannot be whitened.

How do you whiten fake plastic teeth? ›

No method exists to lighten or change the color of denture teeth in a completed denture. To do this, you need a new denture manufactured with a lighter shade of teeth. Denture whitening restores the original tooth color by removing superficial stains that have accumulated through time and wear.

Can you use whitening strips on composite veneers? ›

Can I use Whitestrips if I have crowns, caps, fillings, veneers, partials, gold, laminates, composite bonding, or other restorations? Crest 3D White Whitestrips will not harm or whiten these types of dental work.

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