The Best Tips for Keeping Your Dentures Clean and Bright
Have your dentures gone from pearly white to discoloured and dull? Fortunately, there are several ways to help whiten your dentures and restore them to their original brightness.
Here, we’ll cover how to clean dentures, how to whiten your dentures and all the denture care basics.
What Are Dentures?
Dentures are removable prosthetic devices designed to replace missing teeth. These artificial teeth are custom-fit to a patient’s mouth to help bring back the ability to smile, eat, and socialise with confidence. Individuals who have lost some or all of their teeth often choose dentures as an effective way to restore the look and function of their natural teeth.
Care and Teeth Whitening for Dentures: What to Avoid
While dentures can pick up stains just like real teeth, removing denture stains requires different products and methods than natural teeth. Using home remedies for teeth whitening for dentures or improper cleaning methods could cause discolouration and damage. For more information, check out the resources by 123 Dental about cosmetic dentistry and teeth whitening to know more about what to avoid.
Along with regular dental visits, daily brushing, regular rinsing, and night soaking, the right products and tips can make a significant difference in keeping your dentures healthy.
Here are some remedies, products, and habits to avoid to keep your dentures clean and white:
- Do not soak dentures in bleach or other household cleaners (this can eat away the denture’s finish and discolour them)
- Avoid using abrasive cleaners, regular toothpaste, or other products that are not safe for use with dentures
- Avoid teeth whitening products designed for natural teeth (these are too abrasive and may scratch dentures, causing them to look even worse)
- Brush your dentures daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush (avoid stiff-bristled toothbrushes)
- Do not use hot water to rinse or clean dentures (the high temperature can cause dentures to warp)
- Limit foods such as tomato sauce, red wine, beets, berries, and coffee that can cause stains (if you do consume these foods, gently clean dentures immediately after)
- Avoid using tobacco
- Treat stains as soon as possible (the longer stains build up and set in, the more difficult they are to get rid of)
8 Ways to Clean and Whiten Dentures
Safely whiten dentures and keep them clean with these healthy denture basics.
1. Develop a Daily Routine for Cleaning Dentures
Dentures can become covered in bacteria and plaque, just like natural teeth. If you are not cleaning your dentures properly, it can lead to stains or even infections. As with caring for natural teeth, it is easier to prevent plaque and stains on dentures rather than treat them.
Following a daily denture cleaning routine is the easiest way to keep your dentures glossy, bright, and healthy.
Tips for cleaning dentures include:
- Gently clean your mouth with a soft-bristled toothbrush after removing dentures to help rinse away leftover adhesive or debris
- Rinse your dentures with water before putting them in your mouth
- Soak dentures overnight in water or a cleaning solution designed for dentures
- If you do not plan on wearing your dentures for several hours, place them in a glass of water to prevent them from drying out
2. Try a DIY Hydrogen Peroxide Whitening Treatment
While some home remedies for whitening dentures should be avoided, hydrogen peroxide can be an effective way to safely remove surface stains from dentures without scratching them.
With strong whitening properties, hydrogen peroxide offers a powerful option for denture whitening at home.
To whiten dentures at home with hydrogen peroxide, simply take your dentures out, coat them in the paste, and gently rub the paste on the dentures using a soft-bristled toothbrush.
3. Try a DIY Baking Soda Paste
As with hydrogen peroxide, baking soda is another effective option for denture whitening at home. Along with helping to remove surface stains from dentures, baking soda also helps deodourise.
To whiten dentures at home using baking soda, simply mix some baking soda with an equal amount of water to form a thick paste. Apply the baking soda paste to your dentures and use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently brush your dentures.
4. Use a Professional-Strength Denture Cleanser
If you have tried over-the-counter products and are still dealing with stubborn denture stains, you may need a stronger product.
Fast-acting effervescent solutions made specifically for use on dentures feature powerful ingredients such as Sodium Carbonate, Potassium Mono-persulfate, and Sodium Percarbonate to help combat stains and prevent plaque build-up. These non-abrasive cleaners are safe to use with dentures and can significantly brighten your dentures.
These products often come in tablet form and simply involve dissolving the tablet in water and soaking your dentures overnight.
5. Have Your Dentures Professionally Cleaned
If you aren’t getting the denture whitening results you want, talk with your dentist. Some denture stains may be too difficult to remove at home. Allowing a dental professional to clean your dentures can restore them to their original lustre and polish them to a gleaming finish.
A dental professional will have all the necessary equipment and materials to polish dentures and inspect them for any damage or cracks. In a matter of minutes, your dentist can successfully whiten your dentures and have you smiling with confidence again.
6. Use Denture Bleach
While regular bleach cannot be used on dentures, there are specific bleaching agents that have been designed to be safely used on dentures. To whiten dentures using denture bleach, add a teaspoon of denture bleach to a glass of water. Soak dentures in the bleach solution for approximately 15 to 20 minutes. After soaking, remove your dentures from the solution and gently brush them with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
7. Use White Vinegar
Another natural sanitiser for your dentures can be found right in your pantry: white vinegar. The acid in white vinegar acts as a natural cleaner and is excellent at sanitising, removing plaque buildup, dissolving tartar, and killing bacteria.
To use white vinegar for cleaning dentures, simply soak dentures in equal parts white vinegar and warm water overnight (or for a minimum of 30 minutes). In the morning, gently clean the dentures with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Rinse the dentures thoroughly before placing them in your mouth.
8. Use a Saltwater Solution
Want sparkling clean dentures naturally? Salt can be a surprisingly effective way to clean and disinfect dentures. This readily available, cost-effective solution simply involves dabbing a soft-bristled toothbrush in salt and using it to gently clean your dentures.
You can also place your dentures in a saltwater solution to soak overnight. To do this, combine a tablespoon of table salt with a large glass of water, stir well, and place your dentures in the solution overnight, making sure the dentures are fully covered. Rinse them off in the morning before placing them in your mouth and you’ll have disinfected clean deodourised dentures!
Want More Tips for Cleaning Dentures and How to Whiten Dentures?
If you want to learn more about how to whiten dentures or how to clean dentures, please contact our caring team today. We would be glad to answer any of your questions or schedule a consultation. Our team of dental professionals is dedicated to helping you achieve your brightest, healthiest smile possible.