To keep your smile looking its best, your dentures must be cleaned regularly in order to ensure they’re clean and free from stains. Just like natural teeth, dentures are also susceptible to plaque and yellowing if not removed daily. In addition to visiting your dentist at least once per year to have them checked, you can keep your removable partial or full dentures sparkling by following these steps:
Clean
Be sure to handle your dentures carefully and prevent damage if dropped by removing them over a sink filled with water. Upon removal, clean your natural teeth, tongue, and palate with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
Rinse
Run dentures under warm water, especially after eating, to remove any loose food particles and debris.
Cleanse
Use a denture cleanser and avoid toothpaste, soap, vinegar and bleach for cleaning, as they are not designed for the job and could potentially cause damage to the prosthetic. Gently scrub with a soft-bristled brush daily to disinfect all surfaces of the denture (this step is important to kill the plaque bacteria which grow in the minute scratches of dentures and cause odor).
Soak
Since most dentures need to remain moist to keep their shape, it is vital to soak them in a mild solution overnight. Avoid soaking dentures which are comprised of metal attachments in solutions that contain chlorine since it can tarnish the metal. Before putting your dentures back in your mouth, remember to wash them off with water because denture-soaking solutions contain harmful chemicals which can lead to vomiting, pain or burns if swallowed.
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