When you have dentures, you need to know the right way to take care of them so that they always look their best and you have the healthiest mouth possible.
Most of us learn, early on, how to take care of our teeth with toothpaste and mouthwash but denture care is, in a few ways, quite different.
One the most common products people use for their oral health is mouthwash. There’s a few different options for mouthwash, and many people have their preference. In general, mouthwash is meant to remove the additional bacteria that toothpaste might leave behind and freshen your breath.
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If you have dentures, and are considering using mouthwash to clean dentures or for soaking your dentures you may want to hold off for just a bit.
Benefits Of Mouthwash
Not everyone uses mouthwash as part of their daily oral hygiene routine, but there are many benefits to incorporating a good mouthwash into your daily routine.
Fresh Breath
One of the top benefits to using mouthwash is that it will give you fresher breath, which ultimately can make you more confident in your everyday interactions with other people.
Most mouthwash products will base their marketing on freshening your breath as it is the main benefit of using it.
Get Rid Of Debris
Even though we brush really well, usually, food debris can be left behind in our mouth.
If you use mouthwash before you brush your teeth (which sounds odd), you can loosen up all the debris and remove it before you even brush. Doing it this way can seem odd but it’s actually very beneficial for your oral health.
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Avoid Build-up Of Bacteria
Using mouthwash on a regular basis can help avoid the build-up of harmful bacteria and plaque in your mouth. Whether you have dentures or your natural teeth, this is important for avoiding any kind of infection or disease building up in your mouth.
There are many benefits to using mouthwash, no matter if you have dentures or your natural teeth, but can you use mouthwash to soak your dentures since they do so much for your mouth? If you have dentures, you can definitely use mouthwash to rinse out your mouth without your dentures in to make sure you get rid of the debris and prevent any build up that could happen along your gumline.
Soaking Dentures In Mouthwash
The good news here is that yes, you can soak your dentures in mouthwash to clean them if you don’t have any of your regular cleaning solution handy. It’s important to remember, though, that soaking your dentures in mouthwash is not a substitute for actually brushing your dentures.
If you are going to use mouthwash to soak your dentures, mix equal parts water and mouthwash in the container you usually soak your dentures in. You should then soak your dentures in this solution for about half an hour – not overnight. When that time is up, make sure you thoroughly rinse your dentures before putting them back in.
While soaking your dentures, you should never soak your dentures in hot water. The hot water could warp the shape of your dentures, which could end up being really uncomfortable for you to wear or even cause them to crack trying to make them fit.
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Can You Use Any Kind Of Mouthwash?
You will want to make sure the mouthwash you use, if you’re going to, is appropriate to use for dentures. Some mouthwash products will have whitening properties, which could mean they will actually bleach your dentures or make them brittle.
If you have questions about what kind of mouthwash to use with your dentures, it’s recommended that you chat with your dentist first before soaking them at all.
How Else Can I Clean My Dentures?
Typically dentists will recommend that you use a solution specifically recommended for cleaning dentures to get the best results, but sometimes you need to improvise and don’t always have denture solution handy. So, if that’s the case – what else can you use to clean your dentures?
Flossing
Wait – flossing? Yes, you can use dental floss even if you have dentures. Floss can be very helpful to clean the spaces between the teeth on your dentures. You would use it the same way you would clean your natural teeth with dental floss, and it should be done on a regular basis to keep your dentures clean.
Hydrogen Peroxide
This product has strong whitening properties, and it’s commonly found at most grocery stores or pharmacies. To whiten your dentures using hydrogen peroxide take your dentures out and coat them in the hydrogen peroxide solution. Take a toothbrush, next, and gently brush your dentures. This option should easily remove any stains you notice on your dentures.
Denture Bleach
While it is generally advised that you do not use bleach on your dentures, there is a product with bleach in it that is specifically designed for cleaning and whitening your dentures.
Denture bleach should not mixed up, or confused with, regular bleach as regular bleach can seriously damage your dentures. To whiten your dentures with denture bleach, take a teaspoon of the specialized product and mix it with a glass of water, and then allow them to soak in the solution for about 15 or 20 minutes. After it’s done, take your dentures out and gently brush them with a toothbrush to clean the solution off of them.
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Baking Soda
This product is one that most people have readily available in their home, and it’s a great option for cleaning and whitening your dentures. On top of its whitening properties, baking soda can also be used to remove any odors you may be experiencing in with your dentures.
To clean your dentures with baking soda, mix equal amounts of baking soda with water. Then take a toothbrush, dip it into the solution and then gently brush your dentures like you would brush your teeth.
White Vinegar
One of the best properties about white vinegar is that it’s a natural sanitizer, meaning it can be used to kill any bacteria that may be in your dentures. To get the full effect vinegar can offer, soak your dentures in white vinegar overnight and then clean them with a toothbrush in the morning.
Salt
Salt can be effective for both cleaning and disinfecting your dentures. Wet a toothbrush with some water, dab it into some salt and gently brush to clean your dentures.
Additionally, you could soak your dentures in a saltwater solution overnight to disinfect and clean them. You don’t have to do this all the time, but once in a while to give your dentures a deep cleaning it can be really helpful for the long-term.
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In Summary
You can definitely use mouthwash to clean your dentures, and you can soak them in mouthwash too.
Some mouthwashes would not be recommended for use with dentures, so if you have questions about whether the mouthwash you have is safe to use with dentures you should definitely check in with your dentist to make sure you won’t ruin your dentures.
Dentures, like natural teeth, can have plaque build-up on them, and if they are not cleaned every day they can start to look dull and less white – which could make you self-conscious about your smile.
On top of that, regular cleaning with denture approved solutions can help keep odor away from your dentures and – in turn – freshening your breath while you wear them.
There are a number of ways you can whiten your dentures, even with products commonly found around the house.
It’s really important to make sure you do not use any whitening products for natural teeth as the whitening agents in them can actually damage the acrylic your dentures are made of.
By whitening your dentures as part of your regular routine, you might start to realize how dull they were looking or at how much the food you eat affects the color of your dentures.
From red wine to coffee and everything else you might enjoy eating, the foods you consume can really dull your smile over time.
Having dentures doesn’t mean you can’t have a really bright smile. So, with the help of a few household items you can brighten your smile – almost overnight.
Your dentist has, probably, stated you need to remove your dentures every night and soak them in a solution to clean them – and this is for a reason. Dentures need to stay moist so that they don’t get brittle or crack. On top of that, removing your dentures every night gives your gums a chance to breathe without having the dentures on top of them.
Do you have questions about your dentures or caring for them properly? Your dentist is there to help you navigate through wearing and caring for your dentures, and to make sure your mouth stays as healthy as possible.
When in doubt, give your dentist a call and book an appointment to check on your dentures and make sure everything is ok with them. Your dentist will also give recommendations on how to improve and any areas you may want to keep an eye on.