Cleaning and Flossing Around Composite Bonding
If you have composite bonding, clean it like natural teeth: fluoride toothpaste and a soft or medium brush twice a day, daily cleaning between teeth, and gentle flossing over the composite's edge. Laboratory studies suggest some whitening toothpastes roughen composite more than regular toothpaste or water, so a lower-abrasivity fluoride toothpaste may be gentler.
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Clinically reviewed by Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, dentist · GDC 301711
Medical disclaimer: This page is for general information only. It does not replace an examination or treatment by a dentist.
Dr Ibraheem Ijaz, a General Dental Practitioner and the principal dentist at Deepcar Dental Care, reviewed this page. He holds BDS, BSc (Hons), MSc (Leeds), a PG Dip in Implant Dentistry and a PG Cert in Restorative and Aesthetic Dentistry, and his GDC number is 301711.
How should you clean composite bonding every day?
Clean composite bonding like natural teeth: brush twice a day for about 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste, and clean between your teeth daily. The same routine applies after chipped tooth repair with composite or closing gaps between teeth with composite.
- Floss before brushing, as the NHS advises.
- Brush every surface with at least 1,350ppm fluoride toothpaste, including last thing at night.
- Use a small-headed brush with medium or soft bristles.
- Spit out excess toothpaste; don't rinse it away.
- Use any mouthwash at a different time from brushing.
Cleaning protects the tooth as well as the composite. The revised FDI criteria describe decay at a restoration's edge as a new decay process, and a 2017 research review reports few front-tooth composite failures from it, though it expects a higher failure risk in people prone to decay.
Which toothpaste suits composite bonding?
A fluoride toothpaste with lower abrasivity may be gentler on composite bonding, because brushing with toothpaste can roughen composite in laboratory studies.
Abrasivity is given as RDA, relative dentine abrasivity. ISO 11609 caps it at 250 with no agreed categories below, and scales differ: one calls 70 or less low, a Zurich group under 40.
Where an RDA is published, lower suggests gentler on dentine. Where not, a regular fluoride toothpaste is a reasonable default over a whitening one, though whitening pastes vary and some test low. RDA is measured on dentine, and a 2026 laboratory study concluded RDA alone may not fully predict composite roughening.
Does whitening toothpaste damage composite bonding?
Some whitening toothpastes roughened composite more than regular toothpaste or water in laboratory studies, though results vary by product, composite and brushing time.
In a 2025 laboratory study, one whitening toothpaste roughened composite more than two regular ones, though all three roughened it. In a 2026 laboratory study of five whitening toothpastes, those with optical agents, enzymes or charcoal generally roughened it more than the others, one matched water in some tests, and brushing with water alone also roughened it. In two other laboratory studies, no toothpaste significantly roughened composite over one month (2016), and both composites tested roughened, but only one lost gloss and hardness (2022). The staining page explains how bonding behaves with coffee and wine.
How do you floss around composite bonding?
Floss composite bonding gently, passing the floss over the bonded edge.
On a bonded tooth, hold the floss against the bonded surface, as the American Dental Association advises for any tooth, so it passes over the composite's edge, the margin.
Bonding that closes a gap adds composite where two teeth meet. Under the FDI criteria, floss should pass a contact with resistance, though contact strength can vary considerably among patients; composite accidentally joining two teeth, so floss cannot pass, is unacceptable, as it blocks cleaning and may cause decay or gum disease. Where there are gaps, interdental brush sizing and technique are covered in cleaning between your teeth.
Can you use an electric toothbrush on composite bonding?
Yes, an electric toothbrush can be used on composite bonding. The NHS says electric and manual brushes are equally good if you clean every surface with fluoride toothpaste.
Delivering Better Oral Health reports moderate-certainty evidence that powered brushes reduce plaque and gum inflammation more than manual ones, though the clinical relevance is unclear. In a 2026 laboratory study, without saliva or mouth conditions, sonic and micro-vibration brushes roughened composite and reduced its gloss more than a soft manual brush.
Questions about this treatment? Book online or call the practice.
What should you avoid to protect composite bonding?
When cleaning composite bonding, avoid hard-bristled brushes and wooden toothpicks, and think twice about long-term use of charcoal or whitening toothpastes. Delivering Better Oral Health cites low-certainty evidence that hard bristles are more likely to injure the gums than medium or soft ones, and the NHS says wooden toothpicks may damage your gums.
Grinding and clenching seem to be associated with a higher risk of composite restorations breaking, a 2017 research review says. The grinding page covers bonding when you grind your teeth, and the repairs page explains what to do when bonding chips or breaks.
At Deepcar Dental Care, a night guard is required for patients with direct composite bonding who grind, and it is charged separately.
How does professional polishing help composite bonding?
Professional polishing can restore a smooth, glossy surface to dulled composite bonding and is used to reduce plaque build-up.
Under the FDI criteria, a dull surface with distinct marks can be refurbished by recontouring and polishing, with no new material added; a displeasing dull or rough surface may need repair or replacement. UCLH's NHS hypodontia clinic notes composite is relatively easy to re-polish or repair as necessary.
What should you know about bonding care at Deepcar Dental Care?
Direct composite bonding treatment at Deepcar Dental Care includes a hygiene visit before treatment. The gum health page explains how gum health relates to composite bonding.
After direct composite bonding, a review appointment follows 2 weeks after treatment, and a professional re-polish is recommended every 6 months.
Direct composite bonding at Deepcar Dental Care comes with 12-month aftercare cover, covering repairs. Accidental trauma and infection are excluded.
When should you speak to your dentist about your bonding?
Speak to your dentist if floss will not pass a bonded tooth, keeps catching at its edge, or bonding looks dull or rough.
A dark line at the edge of bonding needs checking too: it may be staining or decay, which a 2017 research review notes are commonly confused.
Where are other composite bonding aftercare topics covered?
Cleaning is one part of looking after composite bonding, and the options in this section cover staining, lifespan, chips and sensitivity.
Frequently asked questions
Should you stop flossing if it catches on your bonding?
No, keep cleaning between your teeth and ask your dentist to check the edge where floss catches. If an overhang or step is found, the revised FDI World Dental Federation criteria advise smoothing it to avoid plaque and marginal staining, and the NHS says flossing removes plaque along the gum line.
Is a low-RDA toothpaste always gentle on teeth?
Not always, because RDA measures wear on dentine only. In a 2023 Zurich laboratory study, a diamond-particle whitening toothpaste with an RDA of 12 caused the most enamel wear of four pastes. The authors concluded that enamel abrasivity (REA) and RDA should both be declared for every toothpaste.
Is charcoal toothpaste suitable for composite bonding?
Unclear, because the evidence is limited and from laboratory studies. A 2024 systematic review of 10 such studies found charcoal toothpastes appeared to affect composite colour stability more than conventional whitening toothpastes, with similar roughening. Three studies had high and five medium risk of bias, and the authors called for better-designed research.
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Deepcar Dental Care is at 334 Manchester Road, Deepcar, Sheffield, S36 2RH, open 8am to 8pm, Monday to Sunday. Patient feedback is on the practice's reviews page.
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