Cleaning Dentures

Here are the steps involved in cleaning dentures:

1. Dentures need to be removed from the mouth before cleaning—preferably after each meal.
2. Rinse the dentures under water after meals to remove loose food.  Don’t use hot water—it might cause the shape of the denture to change!
3. Hold the dentures over a sink—and place a towel in the bottom of the sink to cushion it.  (Otherwise, the dentures could break if you drop them.)
4. Brush the dentures with a special denture brush.  It will have soft bristles that won’t scratch the dentures.
5. Use denture paste or an approved cleaner when brushing the dentures.  Many regular toothpastes are too harsh for dentures.  And, avoid bleach as it can fade the pink part of the denture.
6. Never try to get the dentures clean by scraping them with anything sharp.
7. Always soak dentures at night after brushing them.  (A solution of half water/half vinegar helps soften plaque and remove stains.)  If dentures are allowed to dry out, they might warp—and no longer fit in the mouth.