Denture soaks and cleaning solutions. - Commercial and homemade.
After brushing, your denture needs to be soaked in a cleaning solution.
Chemical cleansing and disinfecting is the second half of effective denture care. Due to the microscopic porosity of the surface of denture plastic, brushing, even in combination with the use of ultrasonic cleaning units, can only go so far in removing the microorganisms (bacteria and fungal) that are harbored on false teeth. Chemical cleansing and disinfecting is required.
No doubt you have seen advertisements for several different brands of effervescent denture cleaners. These products certainly can be a good choice but there are some common household compounds that can be effective denture cleaners too.
Effervescent denture cleansers.
Effervescent denture cleaning products can be an effective way to chemically cleanse and disinfect your false teeth. While the specific ingredients found in the formulation each different brand's product will vary, you will typically find the following types of compounds in them.
- Oxidizing (bleaching) agents -
- Alkaline perborate, sodium perborate or postassium monopersulfate. These compounds remove staining and kill the bacteria harbored on a denture's surface.
- Effervescing agents -
- Perborate, carbonate or citric acid. Effervescing agents provide for the rapid disintegration of the product and also create a mechanical cleansing action.
- Chelating agents -
- EDTA. This type of compound helps to remove the tartar that has accumulated on a denture's surface.
- Detergents and enzymes -
- Sodium polyphosphate, everlace. These compounds assist in cleansing the denture.
- Additional compounds -
- Dye markers that provides a color change when the cleansing process has been completed. Flavorings and fragrances.
A precaution about commercial denture cleaning products.
In February 2008 it was reported that the FDA has received information about 73 incidences of allergic reactions to denture cleansers. One of these cases resulted in a death. It has been speculated that the denture cleaner ingredient "persulfate" is the culprit compound. Persulfate is found in most commercial products and serves as a cleaning and bleaching agent.
It is important to understand that all denture-cleaning products are intended for use in a container only. And upon removal from this container all residual traces of the cleaner should be thoroughly rinsed off before a person's false teeth are placed back into their mouth. Denture cleaners are not designed to be chewed, swallowed or gargled.
Some of the reported incidences did involve misuse (gargling or swallowing) of the cleaners. It is possible, however, that an allergic reaction episode could occur even with the proper use of a denture-cleaning product. Even after years of use with no incidence.
How do you use a denture soak?
Here's a list of things to do and keep in mind when using a denture cleaner.
- Thoroughly scrub your false teeth with a brush and then rinse them off.
- Place your dentures in a glass of water and add the amount of soaking powder or number of tablets as directed by the instructions that came with your product.
- Use the soaking duration indicated by your product's instructions. In general, studies have shown that this type of product will typically kill 99% of the adherent microorganisms found on a denture's surface during a ten to twenty minute soaking. An overnight soaking will effectively sterilize a denture.
- After removing your denture from the soak, thoroughly rinse away any traces of the cleaner with water.
- There can be a number of issues and precautions associated with the use of any type of chemical denture cleaner, including commercial soaks. You must take the time to read through the instructions that have come with your product. We discuss some of these issues and precautions on our next page.
How does mouthwash fare as a denture cleaning solution?
Some people are inclined to soak their dentures in mouthwash. The reason for this is typically twofold. The advertising associated with some mouthwashes makes claims about it being able to kill bacteria. Mouthwashes usually have a pleasant flavor and odor.
The effectiveness of mouthwashes on those types of organisms that are typically harbored on the surface of dentures has not been demonstrated. This is true even for those products that make an antibacterial claim. This would suggest then that the other types of denture cleaning solutions discussed on our pages would be a better choice.
