Just because you wear dentures doesn’t mean that you should skimp on cleaning them. Germs and bacteria can still accumulate, damaging teeth and gums, as well as making your dentures deteriorate quicker. Whether you wear full or partials, learning how to clean dentures effectively should be part of your oral hygiene and denture care routines.

The Importance of Clean Dentures

Dentures can give you a new lease of life if you have missing teeth. They can help you to chew and bite food again, as well as cover unsightly gaps in your teeth to make you look better. This can make you feel better and increase your self-confidence. 

But, just like your own teeth, dentures can get dirty and attract bacteria. This has repercussions on not just your oral health by contributing to gum disease and tooth decay, but possibly elsewhere in your body as several studies have linked gum disease with other systemic diseases. Furthermore, if you don’t clean dentures, they will start to smell which will give you bad breath and an unpleasant taste in your mouth. Check out our tips for cleaning false teeth to keep your mouth clean and healthy.

Tips on How to Clean Dentures

• Brush dentures twice daily

Remove plaque, food debris and other deposits by gently cleaning your dentures with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a denture cleaner. Don’t use regular toothpaste as this is abrasive and can scratch your dentures. Be sure to clean the whole denture, not just the false teeth.

Placing a towel on the countertop or filling the sink with water is a good idea to protect your dentures from being damaged if you drop them.

• Rinse dentures after eating

Rinse your dentures with water to remove food debris after eating. This helps to keep bacteria at bay until you can clean your dentures properly—and ensures comfort so that food particles do not cause irritation if they are stuck in the dentures. 

• Soak dentures overnight in denture cleaning solution

One way of cleaning false teeth thoroughly is to soak them in denture cleaning solution overnight. This has the advantage that it kills bacteria on your dentures as well as allows your gums a rest from wearing them.

If you do soak your dentures overnight in a denture cleaning solution, be sure to rinse them thoroughly before placing them back in your mouth as the chemicals contained in the solution should not come into contact with your mouth.

If you do take your dentures out at night, don’t let them dry out as this can cause warping. If you don’t have cleaning solution, place them in water, or wrap them in a damp cloth and place in a plastic bag. 

• Make sure you have regular check-ups with your dentist

Regular check-ups are important as your dentist can check on your oral health and your dentures to make sure they still fit properly—making any adjustments if they aren’t. 

What to Avoid When Cleaning False Teeth?

There are some surprising things to avoid when you clean dentures:

• Boiling or hot water can warp dentures
• Products containing chlorine, peroxide or bleach can weaken dentures, change their colour or cause tarnishing or corrosion of metal attachments
• Abrasive cleaning materials, including toothpaste and stiff-bristled brushes, can damage dentures

Schedule an Appointment 

Now you know how to clean dentures effectively, schedule an appointment with our team of dental experts who can provide you with all the information and advice you need about dental care to keep your teeth clean and in good shape. While the best time to start was yesterday, the second-best time is today so be sure to get in touch sooner rather than later.