Dentures are an effective way to restore your smile after losing your teeth to illness, aging, or injury. But like your real teeth, dentures can lose their whiteness over time and develop stains or a yellowish tint.
So how do you keep your dentures looking white? Here are several tips on how to whiten dentures and prevent surface stains on your new denture teeth.
You can remove stains to whiten dentures with regular cleaning and soaking overnight in a denture cleaning solution, among many other options.
Homemade denture cleansers, such as salt, lemon juice, and vinegar, can help to whiten stained dentures.
Professional denture cleaning can also help to whiten your dentures.
Like natural teeth, dentures are often at risk of discoloration and staining from heavily pigmented foods and beverages.
Smoking can also cause surface denture stains that are extremely difficult to remove.
Avoiding some common foods and drinks is the best way to prevent denture stains.
While there’s no method available to change the actual color of the denture material, you can whiten your dentures by getting rid of surface stains that have built up over time [1]. If your dentures are stained, here are some valuable tips on how to clean dentures properly to make them look white again.
Your dentures will fit better and last longer if you take care of them. Here are some tips to ensure your dentures stay in excellent shape.
If your dentures have stained over time, there are several safe products you can use to whiten them at home.
If your partial or full dentures are heavily stained, you can consult your dentist about having them professionally cleaned. They can be polished to remove stains and evaluated to ensure the best fit. Many dental professionals recommend getting your denture teeth cleaned once or twice per year.
You can clean badly stained dentures with a denture cleanser and wet denture toothbrush or soft-bristled toothbrush. Give your denture teeth an overnight soak with a commercial cleansing tablet solution or a homemade denture stain remover such as salt, denture bleach, and vinegar [2].
If your new dentures are stained from smoking, try these whitening solutions:
Regular brushing with a soft toothbrush can help remove nicotine stains from dentures.
Hydrogen peroxide contains an effective cleansing agent that whitens dentures with cigarette stains. Gently scrub your dentures with a soft toothbrush that’s been dipped in hydrogen peroxide and rinse them thoroughly before putting them back in.
Denture bleach is gentler than household bleach. Add one teaspoon of dental bleach to a cup of water. Soak your dentures for around 15 minutes and then rinse them well.
Baking soda deodorizes and cleans dentures. Apply it directly to your dentures with some water and brush gently with a soft toothbrush. Alternatively, you can rub the cleaning product gently around the false teeth by hand. Make sure to rinse the dentures thoroughly.
A water and white vinegar solution is one of the simplest home remedies for removing cigarette stains from your dentures. Simply soak your dentures overnight in this solution and rinse them off in the morning.
Salt can whiten your nicotine-stained dentures as well. Take out your dentures and dab your soft toothbrush with some salt, then gently brush the dentures. Alternatively, you can mix a tablespoon of salt with one glass of water. Give your dentures an overnight soak in this solution. The next morning, gently clean them with a toothbrush and rinse them thoroughly.
Mouthwash can eliminate bacteria accumulating in the mouth. Mix half a mug of mouthwash and half a mug of water and then soak your dentures in this solution. Let them soak for 30 minutes and then rinse them properly with cold running water.
Lemon juice contains bleach-like properties, making it a good cleanser for dentures. Juice a lemon into one cup of water and soak your false teeth in this cleaning solution for around 30 minutes. Rinse the dentures and then put them back in.
Denture cleaning tablets can help remove stains caused by smoking. The fizzing action of the tablets will gently remove stains from dentures and kill the bacteria from loose food particles. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for optimal results.
If your dentures’ surface has been stained, you can have them cleaned by a dentist. However, you might not always have the cash and time. If so, the following home remedies can help whiten your dentures fast and keep them stain-free:
Regular cleaning of your dentures is not only important for maintaining good oral health but also increasing the shelf life of your new dentures. While the ADA recommends only using dentist-approved denture cleaning solutions, the following denture whitening tips can help you clean your dentures at home when necessary.
Vinegar is an excellent option for cleaning dentures as it’s a natural sanitizer that eliminates all bacteria and plaque buildup that can cause gum inflammation [2]. Simply fill a cup up with white vinegar and soak dentures in it overnight. The following morning, take out the dentures and brush them with a toothbrush to remove stains with ease.
Baking soda is a low-cost household product that is excellent for whitening dentures. Rinse your toothbrush under running water, then dab some baking soda on it. Brush your dentures gently with this denture paste, making sure to reach all the crevices. Once you’re done, rinse your dentures with running water.
Baking soda can also get rid of odors that have developed on your dentures. Simply add the baking soda, along with a few drops of water, to create a paste. Gently apply this denture paste with a toothbrush, leave it for at least 15 minutes, then rinse with running water.
Baking soda proved to be an effective method of removing stains, both alone and when paired with hydrogen peroxide
Once your dentures are whiter, here are the steps to prevent surface stains from developing:
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about cleaning and whitening dentures.
By cleaning your dentures daily, soaking them overnight in denture cleansers, flossing, and gently brushing with a denture brush or soft toothbrush, you should be able to whiten your dentures and keep them looking almost as shiny as they were when you bought them.
For optimal results, we recommend that you only use fast-acting cleansers formulated to keep your dentures clean. Avoid soaking and rinsing your dentures with hot water as it will damage them.
Most importantly, be sure to first consult a dental professional before trying any of the above denture whitening techniques and always read and understand product labels.
