Dentures provide an excellent solution for replacing missing teeth. However, in order to get the best outcome from wearing dentures, daily denture care and maintenance are crucial. It plays an essential role in keeping your dentures clean and long-lasting. Daily denture care also promotes fresh breath, prevents food and bacteria buildup and keeps your entire mouth healthy.

If you’re new to wearing dentures, one of the best ways to clean your dentures is to make use of denture cleaning tablets and below is a helpful guide on how to use denture cleaning tablets effectively. Failing to clean dentures regularly can lead to you needing to search for something like “denture repairs near me.”

Denture Cleaner Tablets: The Basics

Before we get into the process of using denture cleaning tablets, it is important that we understand the basics of how these cleaner tablets work and what they are made of.

Denture cleaner tablets contain ingredients that are quite similar to those found in laundry detergent and other household cleaners but in less abrasive forms. These ingredients can include; citric acid and sodium bicarbonate, potassium persulfate (which oxidizes stains), sodium perborate (whitening and killing of germs and bacteria), sodium sulfite (to prevent corrosion of the denture’s metal components), sodium carbonate, chelating agents and stabilizers (like magnesium stearate).

The denture cleaner uses these chemical oxidants to remove food and drink stains that the dentures come in contact with on a daily basis. Ingredients like citric acid and sodium bicarbonate work together to produce hydrogen peroxide, which is effervescent, making it easy for active cleaning agents to be distributed throughout the solution and into the nook and crannies of your dentures that a toothbrush can’t reach.

The cleaner also penetrates biofilms and kills any bacteria harboured in hard-to-reach denture surface pores where the bacteria can thrive. When used as directed, denture cleaner tablets can help remove stains and plaque from dentures. Their regular use (daily instead of weekly) also prevents the buildup of these stains and plaque.

How to Use Denture Cleaner Tablets

Denture cleaner tablets are very easy to use, and they typically don’t take up much of your time. Below is an easy step-by-step guide you can follow.

• Start by placing your dentures in a clean container and covering it with slightly warm water.
• Drop a single denture tablet into the water and allow the denture to soak for a period of time (most products specify the recommended soaking time on the package instructions).
• Once the denture has been soaked for the recommended time, take it out and brush it with the cleaning solution and a soft-bristled toothbrush.
• After brushing, thoroughly rinse the denture under cool running water. Never use hot water on your dentures, as it can cause the denture to warp. Also, make sure to dispose of the cleaning solution once you are done.

Other Methods of Cleaning Dentures

While denture cleaner tablets are an effective way of freshening up your dentures and removing stains, it is not a substitute for other denture cleaning methods. In addition to using denture cleaner tablets, you will still need to;

Brush Your Dentures– This manual agitation of dirt and debris with a denture toothbrush and toothpaste goes a long way to remove food debris, plaque and bacteria from your dentures. Remember to only use denture toothpaste as regular toothpaste will be too abrasive and may prematurely wear out the surface of your denture teeth.

After-Eating Care- Denture cleaning and care aren’t only reserved for mornings and bedtime. To prevent food particles from building up, you will need to rinse your dentures and mouth with water after every meal.

Professional Cleaning- Sometimes, there are stains and tartar that brushing and denture cleaners won’t remove. These types of stains require professional attention from your denturist. In addition to removing the stains and polishing your dentures to look new, your denturist will also inspect your dentures for cracked or pitted acrylic that may be harbouring debris and bacteria. Any cracked or worn-out parts will also be repaired.

Conclusion

Adequate denture care is essential for maintaining the look and function of your dentures for as long as possible. Denture cleaner tablets offer an easy and quick way for you to remove stains and freshen up your dentures. To effectively use denture cleaner tablets and get the best results, do make sure to follow the guide above.