If you have had dentures for many years or have only had them for a short while, you might wonder if it’s possible to make them whiter. It’s a reasonable question, and you may not know whether they behave like regular teeth in this way.
Discolored or stained dentures, just like discolored or stained teeth, can make you less confident in your smile. You deserve to have a smile that you can boast about, and that shows off your personality.
So today, let’s talk about whitening your dentures. We’ll talk about all the different options available to you and how to keep your dentures white and beautiful so you can have that million-dollar smile.
How Can You Whiten Dentures?
There are ways to make your dentures a bit whiter if they’ve become discolored or stained, but it’s important to know that you should never attempt to whiten your dentures with tooth-whitening products made for real teeth.
Teeth whitening products can contain harsh bleaches and chemicals that can damage your dentures and make them degrade. Because of this, conventional products like whitening strips or whitening toothpaste should be avoided.
Instead, try the methods below to whiten your dentures and maintain a bright smile.
A Simple Clean
Sometimes all your dentures need is a simple clean. A simple soak overnight with a denture cleanser might be all you need to get your dentures looking beautiful and white again.
You can also get your dentures professionally cleaned. Dentists will clean dentures with an ultrasonic machine, which uses quick vibrations to clean your dentures effectively.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is another way to clean your dentures and give them a little extra whitening. It has natural whitening properties that can help to bring that shine back into your dentures.
Simply put the hydrogen peroxide onto your dentures and gently scrub it into your dentures with your denture brush. After you’ve given them a nice scrub, make sure to rinse your dentures and your brush thoroughly before wearing your dentures again.
Baking Soda and Water
Another way to give your dentures a good cleaning is with baking soda, which also has natural whitening properties. In addition, baking soda is great at removing odors, so this option is a well-rounded approach for cleaning and brightening your dentures.
Simply mix an equal amount of baking soda and water and mix them together until the baking soda is dissolved. Now grab your toothbrush and use this mixture to clean your dentures — it’s simple and effective.
White Vinegar
Your dentures can also get a nice clean with white vinegar. Although this isn’t the best way to whiten your dentures, it is a great way to give them a proper clean. White vinegar is great for killing bacteria, making it an effective option for keeping your dentures fresh.
Simply let your dentures soak in one part white vinegar and one part water overnight, and when you wake up, they’ll be super clean and ready to go. Just make sure you rinse them thoroughly afterward so that you don’t taste any of the vinegar.
How Should You Are For Your Dentures?
Although these methods can help to whiten your dentures if they’ve gotten stained or discolored, the best way to get nice, bright dentures is by taking care of them properly. Daily maintenance and cleaning will help keep your dentures bright, and it will help them to last longer. Here’s what you can do to keep your dentures pearly white.
Avoid Foods and Drinks That Stain
Some certain foods and drinks may come back to bite you in terms of staining and discoloration. If you want to keep your dentures looking beautiful, it’s best to make sure they don’t come in contact with these foods too often.
- Wine
- Coffee
- Tea
- Berries
- Tomato sauce
If you do want to enjoy these foods and drinks, just take your dentures out if you’re able. But, of course, there are some social situations where you simply can’t take them out. If that’s the case and you end up eating one of these foods, make sure you go give your dentures a good rinse right after you finish eating or drinking.
Clean Your Dentures Daily
Your dentures need to be cleaned at least once daily, if not more. Your dentures will likely trap a bunch of bits of food in them. There are lots of nooks and crannies for food to get into.
To clean your dentures, simply use your denture brush to gently brush out any excess food, then rinse the debris away under running water. As a general rule, it’s best to wash your dentures over a sink filled with water so that if you drop them, they won’t break.
You can also invest in denture cleansers. If you’re using a denture cleanser, simply dissolve a cleanser tablet in some water and let your denture soak in the mixture overnight. This will clean your denture and can even remove some light staining.
What Whitening Methods Should You Avoid?
Some cleaning and whitening methods could end up damaging your dentures. First and foremost, it’s important to remember not to use teeth whitening products on dentures. They are not designed for dentures and can damage them.
You should also never try to whiten your dentures with bleach. Not only can this abrasive cleaner damage your dentures, but it can also damage your mouth if any bleach gets into the denture.
The Bottom Line
The Bottom Line
At the end of the day, there are some things you can do to make your dentures whiter, but they will never be as white as when you first get them. Discoloring is a natural part of having dentures. But if you take care of them well, they should stay white until it’s time for you to get a replacement set.
For more information about dentures, head to Renew.
Sources:
5 best ways to whiten your dentures | Authority Dental
Denture care: How do I clean dentures? | NCH Healthcare System