How to Prevent Stains on Dentures and Keep Them White

Dentures are devices that replace missing teeth and help you lead a normal life. Once you have dentures, it's important to keep them clean. Dirty dentures promote the growth of bacteria and fungi and can cause gum inflammation and bad breath. Most people who wear dentures also want to avoid stains for aesthetic reasons. Want to keep your new smile bright and fresh?

Avoid stain formation

Use a straw when drinking beverages that can cause stains. When drinking beverages that could stain your dentures, such as coffee, tea, soft drinks, fruit juices, and blended drinks like cherry juice, remember to use a straw. Drinking through a straw keeps the beverage off your teeth and helps prevent stains, especially on the front teeth.

Quit smoking. Tobacco stains your teeth, so quit smoking if you can. If not, at least try to limit the number of cigarettes you smoke.

Rinse your mouth with water after eating or drinking. After meals, and especially after drinking coffee, tea, wine, or anything else that stains, rinse your dentures under running water.

• If you cannot rinse your denture properly under a running tap, drinking a glass of water will help remove some dyes.

Eat crisp fruits and vegetables. Foods like berries, tomatoes , soy sauce , and balsamic vinegar stain dentures, but you can limit the damage by eating crisp fruits and vegetables, like apples or celery . These foods will naturally clean your dentures.

Brush properly. You should brush your dentures at least twice a day. Make sure you brush every nook and cranny of your denture, but don't press too hard—you don't want to break them.

• Consider purchasing a toothbrush specifically designed for dentures.
• Use a soft-bristled toothbrush. Hard bristles can scratch your dentures and dull the shine.

Soak your dentures in water overnight. When you go to bed, remove your dentures and let them soak in a glass of water or store them in their case, which you have previously soaked in water. Soaking your dentures will help remove plaque and food debris that cause stains.

• Do not use hot water to soak your prosthesis, as this could cause it to warp and shrink.
• Do not soak your prosthesis in anything other than water. Prolonged exposure to soaps and other cleaning products can be harmful.

Ask about ultrasonic cleaning. When you visit your dentist, ask if ultrasonic cleaning is a technique you should use. Your dentist can use it to clean your dentures with a probe. It may sound strange, but ultrasonic cleaning is one of the most effective methods for removing stains and preventing new ones from forming.

Clean existing stains with denture products

Get a denture cleaning product. If stains form on your dentures, you can purchase a denture cleaning product from a pharmacy or supermarket. These products are available in cream, gel, or liquid form and work on all or some dentures.

• Look for a product that is approved by your dentist, so it is recognized as safe and effective.

Follow the manufacturer's instructions. Gels and creams are generally brushed onto the dentures and then rinsed off. For liquids, you'll often use an effervescent tablet in water or another solution, soaking the dentures in, to remove stains.

Rinse well. No matter what product you use, be sure to rinse your denture thoroughly and pat it dry before putting it back in your mouth.

Clean your prosthesis with water and baking soda

Mix baking soda with water to make a cleaning solution. If you don't want to buy denture cleaners, you can try plain baking soda. To start, dilute one teaspoon of baking soda in 8 ounces of water.

Soak your denture in this solution. Let your denture soak in the baking soda and water mixture for about 20 minutes.

Rinse your denture. After soaking your denture, rinse it with water. Do not rub it with anything abrasive.

Pat dry. Use a towel or other cloth to gently dry your denture.

Don't do this more than once a week. You can use this method to clean your dentures regularly, but avoid doing it too frequently. Baking soda itself is somewhat abrasive and can scratch the surface of your dentures. Limit yourself to once a week.

Clean your prosthesis with water and vinegar

Mix vinegar and water. Because of its acidity, vinegar works well for removing stains. Start by mixing one part distilled vinegar with one part water in a bowl large enough to hold your dentures.

Soak your dentures in this solution for 8 hours or overnight. Make sure you soak your dentures for 8 hours and this will give the acetic acid time to dissolve all the tartar.

• If you don't have 8 hours, try a shorter soaking time. Even half an hour will dissolve some tartar.

Brush your dentures. Remove them from the solution and, using a soft-bristled toothbrush, brush as usual. Do not scrub with anything too abrasive.

Rinse. After brushing, rinse your denture with water.

Pat dry. Use a towel or other cloth to gently dry your denture.

Repeat if desired. Some people soak their dentures in water and vinegar as frequently as every night.

Advice

• Never use whitening products that are not intended for use on dentures. These products will discolor your dentures, and whitening toothpastes and other abrasive products can have a corrosive effect.
• Never put your prosthesis in the microwave or dishwasher. Doing so will cause your prosthesis to warp and become unusable.