Dentures require daily cleanings with products specifically created for them. Cleaning keeps them looking fresh and reduces the potential for bacteria growth and associated health concerns that may arise. To ensure your oral health, these steps can help:
- Clean your dentures with a special toothbrush and soak them in a cleansing solution or water daily.
- Take them out when you sleep.
- Schedule appointments with a dentist regularly.
- Make sure to brush the interior of your mouth when your dentures are out.
It is important to clean your dentures properly. Neglecting to care for your dentures can impact your oral health and your overall health.
You may be at risk of developing the following conditions if you do not take care of your dentures:
- swelling or developing a sore in your mouth from denture stomatitis
- bad breath
- altered taste
- pneumonia
Improper care can also lead to dentures warping or becoming stained.
One 2016 study recommends that the following three factors be considered when cleaning your dentures:
- The cleaning should remove plaque and stains.
- The products used to clean your dentures should not cause damage to them. This can create complications when wearing them and could cause more bacteria to grow.
- The cleaning should be antimicrobial.
There are standard denture cleaning practices to help you minimize bacteria buildup and avoid damage to your dentures. According to the Oral Health Foundation, in 2018, a global taskforce released four standard guidelines for cleaning dentures:
- daily brushing
- daily soaking
- removal of dentures at night
- regular appointments with a dentist
Do not forget about cleaning the rest of your mouth when you take out your dentures to clean them. It would help if you brush the inside of your mouth with a toothbrush to keep it healthy. Make sure to brush the following areas twice a day, including your:
- gums
- tongue
- the top of your mouth
Here is more detailed information on how to best do this
Brushing
You need a special toothbrush for your dentures and a cleaner specifically formulated for dentures. Regular toothpaste can wear away at the denture material and damage them over time. Ask your dentist for recommendations or review the different options at the store where you purchase dental hygiene products.
To brush dentures properly:
- Use a denture brush and cleanser once or twice a day.
- Take your dentures out of your mouth to clean them.
- Rinse your dentures to remove any debris like food.
- Clean your dentures over a soft surface like a towel or blanket to protect them in case they fall out of your hand when brushing.
- Follow the instructions of the denture cleaner. You may need to rinse the dentures with water before putting them back in your mouth.
Soaking
Soaking your dentures not only cleans them more deeply, but it can also be a great way to store them overnight. Denture cleansers will kill bacteria while your dentures soak. Your dentures should always soak in water or a denture cleanser when they are out of your mouth to avoid warping.
Determine how long your dentures can soak in a cleanser based on the cleanser’s directions. Do not soak your dentures for more than 10 minutes in products that contain sodium hypochlorite or sodium hypochlorite bleach.
You can soak your dentures in water overnight after you clean them if your cleanser’s directions don’t recommend a prolonged soak in the solution.
Nighttime break
Take out your dentures at night to give your mouth some relief. This can also minimize the chance that you develop an infection like denture stomatitis or pneumonia, according to a
Dental visits
Schedule appointments with your dentist regularly if you wear dentures. Dentists can make sure the dentures fit correctly in your mouth and check for any signs of complications like lesions or changes to your jaw.
You may also want to ask your dentist to clean your dentures. They can use special instruments like ultrasonic cleansers. This will remove biofilm that grows on the dentures over time.
It’s important not to use bleach on your dentures unless specifically directed to do so by your dentist. A 2016 study found that bleach damages the acrylic material in dentures. Stained dentures may need to be cleaned professionally.
Many commercially available products for cleaning dentures contain peroxide along with other ingredients. It would help to use these products customized for dentures and not household peroxide.
You need to be careful with any homemade denture cleaner. You can wash them with hand or dishwashing soap and warm water, but this is not the recommended cleaning method. A homemade cleaner may be useful if you are out of your typical cleaning products, but it is best to use commercially available products to care for your dentures in the long term.
Keep in mind the three goals of denture care and cleaning. Household cleaners cannot achieve all of these objectives, which include:
- removing plaque and cleaning stains
- killing bacteria
- maintaining the integrity of the dentures
The same 2016 study above found that the following products are ineffective against microorganisms found in plaque:
- soaps
- table salt
- vinegar
The study also found that mouthwash and isopropyl alcohol removes microbes but damages the dentures themselves.
Your dentures should always soak in water or a denture cleanser if they are out of your mouth and you are not actively brushing them. Develop a routine where you can:
- take out your dentures
- clean them
- put them in a soak before bedtime
This routine will prevent them from warping. Do not put the dentures in boiling water. This can damage them.
Take care of your dentures to reduce the chance of unwanted bacteria from forming on them. Daily cleaning will also make sure they stay in good shape.
Make sure you always soak your dentures in a water-based solution when they are out of your mouth to avoid damage. You can find products specifically for denture cleaning. You may also want to ask your dentist for cleaning recommendations or contact them for a professional denture cleaning.
