Can I Whiten My Dentures?

Keep your dentures pearly white with these tried-and-true tips.

Dentures provide an effective solution to restore a complete set of functioning teeth. In fact, the American Dental Association estimates of the 36 million Americans who have lost all their teeth, 90 percent wear dentures.

Even if you’re missing only one or two teeth, dentures can fill those gaps and restore your smile. Dentures are natural looking and made to fit snugly along your gum line. With dentures, you can speak and eat normally. But there’s another way dentures act like your natural teeth — they, too, can become stained! Fortunately, you can keep your dentures looking pearly white by following some basic do’s and don’ts when it comes to whitening your dentures.

The do’s and don’ts of keeping your dentures white

Your dentures will last a very long time. Throughout those years, you’ll want them to stay in good condition, and that means avoiding and removing stains. Discolorations can ruin the look of your dentures and make you self-conscious. To clean stains, follow these simple do’s and don’ts:

Do clean your dentures daily. Rinse away any food particles, and brush with non-abrasive toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush. 

Don’t use harsh cleaning products. Products with bleach, stiff-bristled brushes, or abrasive cleaners will damage your dentures.

Do soak overnight in a denture cleanser. A denture cleanser approved by the ADA cleanser can remove stain-causing plaque and food debris. 

Don’t soak in hot water. Hot water can warp your dentures, so stick with lukewarm water to soak and clean your dentures.

Do use baking soda or vinegar to clean dentures. Don’t want to use a commercial denture cleanser? Try mixing vinegar or baking soda with water. Just be sure to soak for no longer than 30 minutes.

Don’t use store-bought whitening products. Store-bought whitening products are not meant to be used on dentures. Plus, they may contain bleach, which is harmful to your dentures. 

Do talk to your dentist. If at-home methods and regular cleaning don’t remove stubborn stains, your dentist can perform a professional cleaning and polishing. It’s recommended such cleanings be done twice a year.

Preventing denture stains

Regular cleaning can reduce denture stains, but stains can happen even if you’re careful. Try to prevent stains in the first place by:

Limiting stain-causing foods. Dark-colored foods and drinks such as coffee, tea, wine, berries, and tomato sauce naturally discolor teeth.

Cleaning after eating. Reduce the chance of a stain by quickly rinsing and cleaning your dentures after eating. The quicker you get stains off the dentures, the less chance the discolorations will remain.

Drinking through a straw. Want to have your morning coffee or fruit juice? Sip through a straw. That way, the liquid doesn’t touch your dentures.

Quitting smoking. Aside from the adverse health effects, cigarettes can turn your dentures yellow. Quit smoking for fresher, whiter dentures.

Do you need dentures? Visit Espire Dental in Oklahoma!

Schedule an appointment at Espire’s Norman, Oklahoma, location today! Our highly trained dentists are experts in fitting our clients with dentures. We’ll also help you keep them pearly white! Don’t live near our Norman, OK, office? Find one of our other locations near you.

Norman, OK
550 24th Ave. S.W.
Norman, OK 73069