What Are the Best Tips for Cleaning Dentures?
Properly cleaning dentures is extremely important, although it does not have to be difficult. Preventing breakage is also vital, so the dentures should always be cleaned over a sink filled with water. The dentures should be thoroughly rinsed before brushing to make sure that all loose food particles have been removed. The next step in cleaning dentures involves using a soft toothbrush and gentle toothpaste to brush them. During sleep, or at least for one hour per day, the dentures should be soaked in either a homemade or commercially prepared solution in order to destroy any residual bacteria.
The first step in cleaning dentures is to ensure that the teeth are safe from breakage. The dentures should be rinsed and cleaned over a sink that contains at least a few inches of water. This helps to protect them from breaking in the event they are dropped during the cleaning process. Hot water can cause the dentures to become misshapen or warped, so hot water should never be used to rinse or clean them.
When it is time to brush the dentures, the proper supplies should be used. Soft-bristled toothbrushes that are specially made for use on dentures are the safest types of toothbrushes. Regular toothpaste is far too abrasive for use on dentures, so a toothpaste created specifically for dentures should be used. The dentures should be carefully rinsed after brushing to make sure all of the paste has been removed.
In order to make sure that all bacteria on the dentures is destroyed, part of the cleaning process involves soaking them in a solution that will get rid of harmful bacteria. Commercially made products work really well, but there are homemade cleaning solutions that may be less expensive but work just as well. Any questions about the types of solutions that are safe should be discussed with a dentist.
One of the most popular solutions when cleaning dentures is a combination of vinegar and water. Just a few drops of vinegar can be added to the water before placing the cleaned dentures into the solution for at least an hour. Baking soda can be used instead of vinegar, or the dentures can be soaked in hydrogen peroxide. Soaking the dentures in plain water for eight hours or more is thought to remove residual particles and bacteria as well. In order to keep the dentures from drying out, they should be immersed in water or another type of liquid solution any time they are removed from the mouth for a prolonged period of time.
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AS FEATURED ON:
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![Partial dentures.]()
By: Haider AzimPartial dentures. -
![Dentures are prosthetic teeth worn by those who have lost their natural teeth.]()
By: Saskia MassinkDentures are prosthetic teeth worn by those who have lost their natural teeth. -
![Soaking dentures in cleaning solution helps remove bacteria.]()
By: NilsZSoaking dentures in cleaning solution helps remove bacteria. -
![Baking soda is a safe and effective cleaner.]()
By: Sea WaveBaking soda is a safe and effective cleaner.
Discussion Comments
My dentures bottom ones have gone yellow under the teeth.
How can I get them cleaned please?
My dad keeps his dentures in water all the time. He said it keeps them cleaner and they don't dry out.
He likes to use baking soda and vinegar to keep them clean. He's not a fan of the mint flavors in the commercial kinds, so he does his own. He usually gets a glass of water, adds a couple of capfuls of vinegar and then a couple of teaspoons of baking soda. When the soda dissolves, he puts in his dentures and soaks them overnight. He said the vinegar flavor is better than the fake mint in the kind you get from the store.
My mom has dentures and she cleans them with the commercial effervescent stuff. She doesn't buy the brand name kind, though. She uses the store brand tablets. She says they're just as good, and if she wants extra cleaning, she will add some hydrogen peroxide to the solution.
Since she doesn't use a grip substance, she doesn't have to scrub that stuff off, but she does brush her dentures a couple of times a day -- just like you would with regular teeth. She said it's important to get the tops of the plates where they rest against your mouth.
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