Titanium-based nanomaterials have been widely used as dental implants because of their beneficial antiseptic and nano-interfacial effects. In particular, their application as surface decontamination biocompatible materials attracts increasing attention. In this study, a TiO₂ nanotube-based antibacterial system has been fabricated by an anodic oxidation method, and its morphology, crystalline phase and hydrophilic property have been characterized. The effects of TiO₂ nanotubes on bacterial growth inhibition, as well as bacterial cell fate, were also investigated. The results indicated that mixed-phase TiO₂ nanotubes show excellent antibacterial performance under ultraviolet light irradiation, and their antibacterial ability could be attributed to the oxidative stress induced by the TiO₂ nanotubes. The antibacterial performance of the TiO₂ nanotube coating can be manipulated by photocatalytic activity as well as geometrical characteristics. Our study is the first to reveal the interactions of TiO₂ surface that may increase the potential survival chances of Porphyromonas gingivalis when exposed to an antibacterial drug.