Unfortunately, your everyday toothpastes, household cleaners and hot water are not suitable for cleaning dentures. Toothpastes and cleaners can take the “pink” colour out of the acrylic resin, whereas hot water can warp their shape. Therefore, consider a denture cleansing solution that can clean the denture overnight.
Some of the best toothpaste for dentures include Fresh 'n Brite, Polident Dentu-Creme, and Dr. B Dental Solutions. If you use the best toothpaste for dentures, they always remain in perfect condition. Dentures should not be soaked in bleach, as some bleach may change your dentures' base color.
Use a denture cleanser. (Conventional toothpaste, bleach, vinegar and soap are not designed for denture cleaning and could, in some cases, cause damage. Scratched dentures will harbor unsightly plaque bacteria, causing denture odor. Harsh products like bleach may even turn the pink parts of your dentures white.)
Use baking soda. Baking soda has whitening properties that are effective on your natural teeth and dental prosthetics like dentures. Baking soda is also effective at removing odors from your device. To clean with baking soda, simply dab a wet toothbrush in baking soda and use the paste to gently clean the prosthetic.
Don't Use Sharp Objects. Avoid using anything abrasive or sharp along your dentures. Items like toothpicks or dental scrapers are not recommended to use on dentures since they can easily slip and damage your mouth tissue.
You typically should avoid: Abrasive cleaning materials. Avoid stiff-bristled brushes, strong cleansers and harsh toothpaste, as these are too abrasive and can damage your dentures.
Hard foods such as raw carrots, corn on the cob and fresh apples also take more pressure to bite into, and this pressure isn't evenly distributed in your mouth. This may cause dentures to dislodge or feel loose, which could be painful.
If you are going to use a toothpaste, use a low abrasive one like Sensodyne. Be sure to brush the surface of your dentures gently and over a towel or sink with cool water because your denture is very delicate.
Any time dentures are going to be out of your mouth for an extended period of time, they should be kept in water or a denture solution. If they are allowed to dry out, they may become brittle and warped. Ideally, dentures should only be soaked overnight and put back in your mouth the following morning.
Most types of dentures will lose their shape if they are not kept moist. Therefore, when you take your dentures out of your mouth at night, you should store them in a liquid-filled container. What kind of liquid? Many individuals use plain tap water or distilled water to soak their dentures.
You may think that since toothpaste is a staple in healthy oral care routines for natural teeth that it is the best solution to clean dentures as well. This is actually false. Toothpaste is not intended to be used for denture cleaning and as a result can actually be harmful to your dentures.
Whether you can use toothpaste for denture care is a common question many people wonder when they first get dentures. The short answer to this question is no; you cannot.
Sleeping in dentures can negatively affect saliva flow, blocking the saliva's path, which can give rise to a condition called denture stomatitis. Denture stomatitis, also known as thrush, is a condition where the area beneath your dentures can get red and swollen, leading to yeast-infected, inflamed gums.
Instructions for cleaning dentures/partials:
Use an antibacterial dish soap (Dawn is recommended) and a denture brush or a soft toothbrush to clean the appliance. Be sure to clean your appliance after each meal as well as brush and rinse your mouth.
DO choose a low-abrasive, tartar-control toothpaste. Using a normal OTC toothpaste containing fluoride is OK. There is no need to choose a special type of toothpaste, but look for the ADA Seal of Approval to find the ideal options.
The bristles on denture brushes are firm but not hard and this allows for proper cleaning in and around clips, crevasses and anywhere else bacteria can form. REMEMBER: Do not use a regular toothbrush for your full/partial dentures. The hard bristles can scratch your replacement teeth and even damage them.
If you use dental adhesive with your dentures, this should be removed with gentle scrubbing every day. Soak your dentures overnight night in a denture-cleaning solution like Polident Pro Guard & Retainer Antibacterial Daily Cleanser. Cleaning solutions help remove stains and plaque left on your dentures.
Steradent is a good cleaning product to use if you follow the manufacturer's guidelines. But, remember that soaking your dentures in Steradent overnight isn't recommended. Using Steradent can have harmful effects on false teeth if they are made from soft materials like flexible dental resins.
As long as you use a soft-bristled brush and avoid the use of any abrasive toothpaste, brushing your dentures as if they were natural teeth won't do any harm. You might use this practice as quick way to freshen up your mouth between meals.
Eat Carefully
If you need to bite down on hard food, such as an apple, use your canines instead of your front teeth. Otherwise, you can cause your dentures to slip and slide around, hurting your gums. Make sure you distribute your food evenly on both sides in the back of your mouth when you chew.
Although dentures improve chewing function, the bite force is much weaker than that of natural teeth, meaning users often avoid certain foods. The bite relationships on dentures may have a lot to do with how and why you cannot eat with them. They are like snow shoes. If you bite down on one side, it lifts up.
Avoid certain foods in the beginning – When you're first learning to chew with your dentures, you should avoid eating foods that you have to bite into like pizzas and burgers. These types of foods can easily dislodge your dentures. Sticky foods might also be problematic for new denture wearers.
Loose or ill-fitting dentures can cause pain by rubbing against the delicate tissues of your gums. Upper denture problems can make it difficult to enjoy your food. Because it covers taste buds on the roof of your tongue, a small slip can make it difficult to taste.
Using Polident 3 Minute Daily Cleanser
Drop one Polident Daily Cleanser tablet into enough very warm (not hot) water to cover the partial/denture. After soaking for 3-5 minutes, or overnight if you prefer, brush partial/denture with the solution using a soft denture brush.