Taking care of false teeth: Soaking solutions, commercial and homemade.

Effective denture cleaning is based on a two-step process. The first step, as discussed in the first part of this hub, involves the mechanical cleansing (scrubbing) of the denture. Once this has been completed, the second step (the topic of this hub) involves chemically cleaning and disinfecting the false teeth with a soaking solution.

There are a number of different options available to you when you choose a denture cleaner. No doubt you have seen advertisements for a number of commercial products (i.e. Polident, Efferdent). It might surprise you to learn, however, that effective denture cleaning solutions can be made out of common household products too (typically bleach or vinegar).

• A cleaning solution should be able to disinfect the denture. - Research has shown that even after the most vigorous brushing, microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) remain attached to a denture's surface. The denture cleanser that is chosen must be capable of killing these organisms.
• A denture cleaner should remove tartar and staining. - Dental tartar will accumulate on the surface of false teeth just like it does on natural teeth. It is possible that very diligent and frequent brushings can keep it at bay. But for most people, sooner or later tartar will start to accumulate. A denture cleaning solution should provide a remedy for tartar buildup.

Here is a listing of some of the types of soaking solutions that can play an effective role in cleaning false teeth. Animated-Teeth.com discusses the use of these denture cleaners in greater detail on its pages.

1) Effervescent denture cleansers.

Commercially made effervescent denture cleaning products (tablets, powders and liquids) can be a good choice. One study found that this type of product, when used as a soak overnight, was capable sterilizing dentures. This same study reported a 99% kill rate when these effervescent cleaners were used for short soaks lasting between ten and twenty minutes.

The precise formulation of each brand's product will vary but, in general, these types of products typically contain an oxidizing compound that is capable of killing microorganisms and helping to remove stains. An effervescing agent that provides for the rapid disintegration of the product and provides some limited mechanical cleansing action. A tartar removing agent (chelating agent) and various detergents, enzymes, dyes, flavorings and fragrances.

2) Using a bleach solution (sodium hypochlorite) to clean false teeth.

Household bleach (Chlorox) can be used to make a denture cleaning solution. A mixture of one part bleach to ten parts tap water has been shown to effectively kill the microorganisms harbored on dentures. Bleaching solutions also help to remove some types of denture staining. Most dentists will recommend a soaking duration of twenty to thirty minutes.

This type of cleaner will not be effective in removing tartar accumulation. However, adding one teaspoon of Calgon water softener (Calgon the calcium-chelating agent, not Calgon the soap or bath oil) per glassful of one to ten bleach to tap water solution does make an effective sterilizing and tartar removing soak.

While a diluted bleach solution is the most popular type of homemade denture cleaner (as well as my personal favorite), if you do choose to use it there are a few points you should keep in mind.

• After your denture has been soaked you must rinse it off thoroughly. It is possible that any residual bleach solution that remains on the denture might irritate your gums.
• Long-term, regular use of a bleach-based cleaning solution may have a lightening effect on a denture's pink-colored plastic. For most people, this will either be a non-issue or else a change that is so subtle that it is not readily apparent.
• Bleach-based denture cleaning solutions may corrode the metal component of partial dentures. This is most likely to happen in those cases involving a routine where the duration of the denture soaking is more than ten minutes per day.

3) Using vinegar (acetic acid solution) as a denture cleaner.

Vinegar, straight out of the bottle, can be used as a denture cleaner. It has been demonstrated to be effective in killing the types of microorganisms that reside on the surface of dentures, however, less so than the bleach solution described above.

Vinegar denture soaks are an effective way to remove tartar accumulation. In some cases the vinegar will dissolve away all of the tartar. In those cases where it doesn't, it will at least produce some softening effect that will make it possible to brush some or all of the tartar away. In those cases where there is heavy tartar accumulation, repeated soakings will be needed.

The use of vinegar with partial dentures, at least as a long-term soak, is not recommended. Vinegar may corrode the metal component of a partial denture.

4) Can mouthwash be used as a denture cleaning solution?

The combination of antibacterial claims made by many mouthwash products along with their pleasant flavorings makes the idea of using mouth rinse as a denture cleaner a logical choice. However, the effectiveness of mouthwashes on the types of microorganisms that accumulate on the surface of dentures has not been demonstrated. This fact suggests that the other types of cleaning solutions mentioned in this hub are a better choice.

For the vast majority of people with complete dentures, choosing any one of denture cleaning solutions mentioned in this hub will be appropriate choice. However, if a person has a partial denture or else a denture that has a soft plastic (spongy) aspect, using the wrong type of soaking solution may their false teeth. You should always consult with your dentist and get their feedback regarding which denture cleaners are compatible with your denture. Here are some of the issues that might be of concern.

• Some denture cleaning solutions can damage soft denture lining materials (temporary and permanent). - Some dentures have an aspect that is made out of resilient (soft) dental plastic. Sometimes this layer is just a temporary lining. In other cases it is a permanent part of the denture. It is possible that some soft dental plastics may be damaged by or will absorb the taste of some types of denture cleaners. In all cases, you should ask your dentist for specific recommendations about what type of cleaner solution is appropriate for use with the materials found in your denture.
• Some types of denture cleaners can corrode the metal component of dentures. - Some types of false teeth have a metal component. For example, partial dentures usually have metal clasps that help to hold them in place. It is possible that oxidizing compounds contained in a denture soaking solution, either homemade or commercial, may corrode these metal parts. As an example, the use of the diluted bleach solution describe previously in this hub has been reported to tarnish the metal of partial dentures if soakings last for more than ten minutes per day. If you buy a commercial product, read its instructions and check for a mention of this precaution.

One of the reasons acrylic resin is used to make false teeth is because it resists absorbing tastes and flavors. For this reason it is unlikely that the use of any denture soak will impart a taste to a denture. Having said that, for those cleaning solutions that have a taste that a person might find objectionable (i.e. bleach, vinegar), you should perform some short test soaking just to make sure that complications do not present themselves.

[ I would like to thank Animated-Teeth.com for granting me permission to use their graphics for this hub.]