Keeping your dentures clean is essential for preventing bad breath and other oral health problems. Cleaning your dentures can also help them last longer. Keeping them clean isn’t difficult if you care for them properly. A few simple steps will ensure that you keep your new teeth clean, healthy, and smelling good.
That being said, it might be challenging for some people who have recently had their natural teeth removed. Getting used to dentures takes time, patience, and persistence. But don’t worry! With the right information and techniques, you can easily adjust to having a new set of teeth without much difficulty. Read on to know more about keeping your dentures clean the right way!
Proper Dental Care
Proper dental care is essential for maintaining healthy teeth, gums, and oral tissues. It is crucial for people who have dentures.
Dentures are artificial teeth that replace missing teeth. Most people missing their natural teeth use dentures as their go-to option.
Full dentures or implants can bring back that wide and lovely smile. Just remember that they entail proper cleaning routines and maintenance checks. They should be taken out before going to bed at night and cleaned. You can clean them with a denture cleaner and toothbrush or soak them in a denture solution during the night. And just like regular teeth, they should be brushed at least twice a day and flossed regularly.
Still, no matter how well you take care of your dentures, discoloration and stains can happen. Here are five things to do to ensure you keep your dentures clean.
- Use Salt
Salt is a useful tool for keeping your dentures clean. It can be used to whiten them, remove stains from them, and make them sparkle.
Salt can draw out any substances in your dentures, such as plaque and tartar. If there is a build-up of these substances onto your denture, salt will remove them quickly and effectively.
You must use salt in moderation when brushing your dentures with a toothbrush. Salt can injure gums and other oral tissues if you brush too aggressively.
If you are using salt to clean your dentures, there are two ways to do it.
One, take a tablespoon of salt and mix it with water to make a solution. Afterwards, take the dentures and put them in the solution. Let them sit overnight before brushing them again in the morning. This way, any food residue left over from the previous day will have time to soak and get removed from the denture itself.
Two, you can swab your toothbrush in salt and use it to brush your denture implants. Whichever method you use, rinse the dentures thoroughly using cold water.
- Use Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is an effective cleaning agent for dentures. Plus, it is a safe cleaning agent for both your natural teeth and full denture implants. It is especially effective for stain removal and discoloration.
To clean your dentures with hydrogen peroxide, first, take them out. Next, apply the hydrogen peroxide directly onto the surface of the dentures. You can then use a toothbrush to clean them. Since hydrogen peroxide is abrasive, you may want to be very gentle when cleansing your false teeth. No doubt you’ll see results after the first application.
- Use Lemon Juice
Lemon juice has bleaching properties and can be used to remove stains. For this reason, lemon juice can be great for cleaning dentures.
To use lemon juice, squeeze some lemon juice into a bowl of water. Next, put your false teeth into the mixture and let them sit for about 30-40 minutes. You can then take them out and rinse them thoroughly using cold water.
Because of the acidic nature of lemon juice, you should be cautious not to exceed 40 minutes. Even though its bleaching properties come in handy, if overdone, its corrosive acid can easily damage your false teeth.
- Use White Vinegar
Dentures are a lot like your teeth; you want them to stay clean and healthy. But it can be difficult. Dentures often get food and drink caught in between them, and they can also collect bacteria.
This is where white vinegar comes in handy. It helps kill germs and remove stains on dentures. If you have yellow or brown dentures, using white vinegar will help remove the discoloration while keeping them clean.
To use white vinegar, simply pour white vinegar into a cup and soak the denture implants overnight. You can then take them out in the morning and use a toothbrush to clean them and remove all the food particles.
- Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is an active ingredient in toothpaste and mouthwash. It’s also a gentle abrasive that can help remove plaque on your dentures.
To use baking soda, swab your wet toothbrush in it and brush your dentures for about 30 seconds. Then rinse your dentures thoroughly with cold water to remove any baking soda residue.
Conclusion
Dentures are an excellent solution for a lot of people. You no longer have to deal with missing teeth and severe cavities, even when you’re in your senior years. But as useful as dentures may be, you still need to take good care of them.
Proper hygiene will keep your dentures clean and in good condition so that you can use them for years. The best way to keep them clean is to use denture cleaners, perform regular brushing, and floss thoroughly just as you would with natural teeth. You can also use homemade remedies to clean them.