Cleaning Dentures - How To Clean Full, Partial and Metal Dentures
Denture Cleaning Tips
Like your natural teeth, it is important to take good care of your false teeth. Keeping your dentures clean is very important for your oral hygiene. We answer all your questions relating to denture cleaning and help you work out the best way to look after your dentures.
Dentures are porous and will absorb moisture, microscopic particles and bacteria. Like your natural teeth, they can attract plaque. In turn, plaque can attract bacteria. We don’t want you to have bacteria building in your mouth, this can create problems for your overall dental hygiene.
At the bottom of this article is our recommended Denture Cleaning Regime!
#1 Hot Tip When Cleaning Your Denture
Use a thick chux or hand towel underneath your hands. We know that a lot of people actually drop and break their dentures when they are cleaning their denture, so we always recommend putting a thick chux or towel underneath your hands (on the sink or on the bench top) when you are cleaning your denture.
Don’t rush, take your time and have a firm hold of your denture… you' don’t want to drop it.
Do not clean your dentures in the shower - it’s a long fall if you do drop them and they are likely to break or fracture.
1. How Often Should I Clean My Dentures?
We recommend brushing your denture at least once a day. Soaking your denture does not remove food debris.
We recommend you remove and rinse your dentures with water after eating. This will help remove food from your denture.
Brushing your dentures daily will reduce the chance of plaque build up and stains.
2. What Can I Use To Clean My Dentures?
Do Use
Soft bristled denture toothbrush
Dishwashing Liquid
Mild soap
Hand soap
Warm salt & water
Denture Cleanser
Ultrasonic cleaner
Miltons.
Do Not Use
Regular toothbrush
Toothpaste
Bleach
Vinegar
Using soap sounds a little harsh or unusual, but it is the best way to kill any bacteria or organisms. It is a simple but effective way to disinfect your dentures. (Remember dentures are porous, meaning they can absorb things into the material).
We recommend and sell a lot of ultrasonic denture cleaners - the benefits of using these cleaning devices is that it is less hands on brushing and it is able to remove finer particles that what you could normally do with a brush. The other main benefit is that it suits our ageing patients who have problems with their fine motor skills and dexterity.
Toothpaste and regular toothbrushes are too harsh for your dentures. These products will wear down your dentures. Dentures are up to 10 times softer than our natural teeth. Always use a soft bristled brush.
3. Should I Brush My Gums, Cheeks And Tongue?
Yes. This is where bacteria and microorganisms live and we don’t want that.
4. Should I Soak My Dentures Overnight?
Yes, in room temperature water to prevent the denture from drying out. (nb. Do not use hot water because it might affect your denture material and shape).
Using a denture cleaning tablet can help remove stains and kill bacteria at the same time.
5. How Do You Clean Badly Stained Dentures?
We recommend getting a Dental Prosthetist to do a professional clean.
To avoid and minimise staining your denture, rinse in cool water after you eat and brush every day. A thorough clean in an ultrasonic cleaner is the best way to avoid denture build up and stains.
6. What Is The Best Denture Cleaner?
We recommend our patients to use soap and water because it is affordable and effective. Some patients prefer denture cleaning tablets like Sterident, Polident and Caldent to remove tartar and stains. We think that they are very good if you are happy to pay for it. We also recommend using Milton Tablets once a week.
7. Should I Use Vinegar To Clean My Denture?
No, we recommend you use soap and water or dNo, we recommend you use soap and water or denture cleansing tablets daily and once a week soak your dentures in Miltons for 3-5mins. See what we recommend at the bottom of this article.
8. Should I Use Peroxide To Clean My Denture?
No, we recommend you use soap and water or denture cleansing tablets daily and once a week soak your dentures in Miltons for 3-5mins. See what we recommend at the bottom of this article.
We Recommend The Following Denture Cleaning Regime
Ideally clean or rinse your dentures after each meal.
Each night use a soft denture brush and soap & water to clean your denture.
Dentures can be slippery when wet, so be careful with them. We encourage our patients to use a thick chux under their hands and in the sink when brushing their denture - if you do happen to drop them, it softens the fall.
Brush your remaining teeth (if you have any), gums and tongue. It’s important to keep good oral hygiene because you want to keep as many of your natural teeth as you possibly can.
Once a week soak your dentures in Miltons, 3 - 5mins only. Make a milton’s solution, diluted 10% with water. Soak for no longer than 3 minutes and rinse thoroughly. This will discourage bacterial build up in your denture.
Do not leave dentures or metal dentures for any longer than 3 mins because it can change the colour of the denture base and metal.
Keep your dentures in a glass of room temperature water while you sleep, to allow your gums and muscles in your mouth to rest.
Queensland Health says this regarding cleaning dentures:
Like natural teeth, dentures attract plaque, become stained and collect food particles that can cause bad breath or irritate your gums. Keeping your dentures clean is vital for good oral health.
Whenever possible, your dentures should be cleaned immediately after eating. If you are away from home, rinse the dentures under tap water. Clean your dentures at least twice a day. The best cleaning method is a combination of brushing and soaking.
Brushing: Use a small soft nailbrush with natural bristles (not nylon) or a denture brush to brush your dentures. Abrasive material can damage dentures so use soap or non-concentrated dishwashing liquid. Do not use toothpaste.
Soaking: Soaking does not replace brushing but helps to clean difficult-to-reach areas. Commercial soaking agents are available from supermarkets and pharmacies, or you can make an inexpensive alternative at home by mixing equal parts of white vinegar and water. After soaking, thoroughly brush and rinse dentures in water. Don’t use hot water as it may adversely affect the denture material.
To protect your oral health, you also need to look after your gums, tongue, palate and any natural teeth. Brush gums, tongue, palate and natural teeth gently twice daily with a soft bristled brush. This stimulates circulation in the tissues and helps remove plaque.
Regular dental checks are also important to monitor the health of the soft tissues in your mouth and diagnose other conditions.
You can click here for more information from Queensland Health website
If you ever have any questions regarding your dentures, get in touch and we would love to help you!
Author - Darius Northey, Dental Prosthetist
