Nationwide Denture Repair.

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 microrganisms (bacterial 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 can certainly 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 formula of multiple cleanser brands’ products 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 or everlace. These compounds assist in cleansing the denture.

Additional compounds

Dye markers that provides a color change when the cleansing process has been completed. Varying 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.