Book your FREE Consultation Today
We can help find the right solution for you. Take that first step to loving your smile again.
How to Clean & Whiten Dentures
Whether you have Temporary, Flexible, Partial Dentures, or Full Dentures, taking care of them is important to your quality of life.
People who have lost some or all of their teeth need dentures for speaking, eating, and smiling. To keep these functions, it’s important for dentures to fit comfortably and work properly. Sticking to a good denture hygiene routine is great, but sometimes you might notice that extra steps are needed to remove stains and bacteria.
Luckily, there are plenty of ways you can clean and whiten dentures to make sure your smile is always bright!
How to Clean Dentures
- After eating and before inserting, rinse your dentures with water to remove food and leftover cleanser particles.
- Always clean your mouth after removing dentures with a soft bristled toothbrush to remove any debris or adhesive.
- Brush your dentures daily with a soft-bristled brush to remove plaque and deposits. Make sure to only use a non-abrasive denture cleanser and not regular toothpaste, as this could damage the dentures.
- Prevent stains by soaking your dentures overnight in a denture cleaning solution.
- Keep dentures from drying out by placing them in a glass of water if you won’t be wearing them for a long period of time.
What Happens if You Don’t Clean Your Dentures
Not cleaning your dentures can lead to illness and infection. Dentures are covered in as much bacteria as natural teeth and some strains are worse than others. Some bacteria lead to gum inflammation while others lead to respiratory infections like pneumonia and MRSA.
Older patients especially need to keep their dentures clean.
How to Whiten Dentures
Hydrogen Peroxide
You can whiten dentures with hydrogen peroxide easily by coating them with the solution and gently brushing them with a denture toothbrush.
Baking Soda
Whitening and cleaning dentures with baking soda is a well-known remedy for stains and odor. Simply mix equal parts baking soda and water and then gently brush your dentures.
Denture Cleansers
There are bleaching and whitening solutions just for dentures. Simply follow the package directions and soak them for a period of time. These cleaners are not to be confused with regular bleach, which can damage dentures. Sometimes using a non-abrasive denture cleaner is all it takes to whiten!
Professional Cleaning
If you’re not getting the whitening results you want, talk to your dentist about professional denture cleaning, which should be done a couple times a year anyway. In just a few minutes your dentist can restore and whiten your dentures.
Cleaners & Whiteners You Should Avoid
- Abrasive cleaners like stiff-bristled toothbrushes, regular toothpaste, and cleansers.
- Products that contain bleach, like whitening systems, because they can damage dentures and change their color.
- Hot water because it could warp your dentures.
Keep your dentures clean and white with regular rinsing, daily brushing, night soaking, and regular dental visits. A regular denture hygiene routine will make sure you and your smile will stay happy and healthy.
To learn more about the difference between fixed implant and implant snap dentures Contact Us or call (303) 974-4651.