How to Clean Partial Dentures

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Since your dentures come into contact with food on a daily basis, it’s important for you to keep them as clean as possible. Set aside a few minutes each evening to scrub and soak your partial dentures, which helps to keep them squeaky clean and plaque-free. Just remember to rinse the mouthpiece off in the morning before using it, and you’ll be good to go!

Part 1
Part 1 of 2:

Scrubbing with a Brush

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    1
    Set up your cleaning area to help you develop a routine. Set a towel over the sink area, or wherever you plan on cleaning your partial dentures. Since oral dental devices can be fragile, make sure that the surface below can cushion your partial dentures if you accidentally drop them. [1]
    • It’s easiest to clean your partial dentures over a sink, where you have access to running water. [2]
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    2
    Pull your partial dentures out of your mouth to remove them. Use your thumb and forefinger to free the dental device from your gums. [3] Depending on the type of dental device you have, your partial dentures might be secured in place with a metal clasp. Check with your dentist if you aren’t sure of how to remove your partial dentures.
    • Some partial dentures attach to crowns on your teeth, which are known as precision attachments.
    • Try and develop a nightly routine for your partial denture maintenance. [4]
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    3
    Use a toothbrush or specialized brush to scrub your dentures. Invest in a soft-bristled toothbrush or a brush designed specifically for dentures to keep your dental devices as spotless as possible. Don’t clean with a hard-bristled toothbrush, as this item can scratch and damage your partial dentures. [5]
    • Check online or in your local drugstore for these kinds of soft-bristled brushes.
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    4
    Coat the brush with denture cleaning paste or mild dish soap. Take a pea-sized amount of denture cleaning paste or another delicate cleaning product and squeeze it onto the brush. If you don’t have a cleaning paste on hand, use a mild dish detergent or hand soap instead. Try not to use harsh detergents or cleaning products, as these can damage the partial dentures. [6]
    • Denture cleaning paste can be found online, as well as in most drugstores.
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    5
    Brush over all sides of the partial dentures. Use short, firm strokes, as though you were brushing your natural teeth. [7] Focus on any areas that have plaque build-up or leftover food particles.

    Tip: Try not to scrub your dentures any harder than you would brush your natural teeth.

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    6
    Rinse your dentures under cool water. [8] Turn on the sink faucet to a gentle water pressure. With the tap set to a cool setting, hold your partial dentures under the water to rinse off any leftover cleaning product. You don’t need to be super thorough, since you’ll also be soaking your dentures in a cleaning solution. [9]
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Part 2
Part 2 of 2:

Soaking the Partial Dentures Overnight

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    1
    Place a denture cleaning tablet into a glass of water and let it dissolve. Remove a cleaning tablet from its paper packet and drop it into a medium-sized glass that’s filled ¾ of the way full with warm tap water. Wait 1-2 minutes for the tablet to dissolve, or for the water to stop fizzing. When you do this, be sure to use a glass that’s large enough to submerge your partial dentures completely. [10]
    • Check the box to see how long the tablet takes to dissolve.

    Warning: Avoid using hot water with your dentures, as this can cause them to change shape. [11]

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    2
    Set your partial dentures into the cleaning solution. Take your brushed dentures and place them in the glass, allowing them to sink to the bottom of the solution. Make sure that the partial dentures are fully submerged, so all parts of the mouthpieces can get completely clean. [12]
    • Partial dentures must always be kept in a damp environment. If they’re not in your mouth, make sure that they’re submerged in cleaning solution.
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    3
    Let the dentures soak in the glass overnight. Go to bed, leaving your partial dentures in the cleaning solution while you sleep. [13] Try to leave your dentures in the solution for the minimum time specified on the cleaning tablet box. [14]
    • Don’t remove them from the glass until you wake up the next morning, as this allows the dentures to be as clean as possible.
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    4
    Run your partial dentures under cool water before putting them back into your mouth. Remove your partial dentures from the glass, and pour the excess cleaning solution down the sink drain. Before you put the dentures back in your mouth, rinse them beneath a cool, gentle stream of tap water to clear away any leftover cleaning solution. [15]
    • If you don’t rinse off your partial dentures, you could end up burning your mouth with excess solution.
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      Things You’ll Need

      • Denture cleaning brush
      • Soft-bristled toothbrush (optional)
      • Denture cleaning paste
      • Mild dish detergent (optional)
      • Mild hand soap (optional)
      • Glass
      • Denture cleaning tablet

      Tips

      • Talk to your dentist if your partial dentures ever feel loose or uncomfortable.
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      • After eating a meal, always rinse out your dentures with warm water to get rid of any food particles.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dentures/
      2. ↑ https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/d/dentures-partial
      3. ↑ https://www.calaverahillsdental.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/558_Partial_Denture_Instructions.pdf
      4. ↑ https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/d/dentures-partial
      5. ↑ https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/d/dentures-partial
      6. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dentures/
      7. ↑ https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/d/dentures-partial
      8. ↑ Tu Anh Vu, DMD. Board Certified Dentist. Expert Interview. 10 April 2020.
      9. ↑ https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/d/dentures-partial
      1. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dentures/
      2. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/10901-denture-care
      3. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/10901-denture-care
      4. ↑ Tu Anh Vu, DMD. Board Certified Dentist. Expert Interview. 10 April 2020.
      5. ↑ https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dentures/
      6. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/10901-denture-care

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      • Art Jay

        Mar 27, 2020

        "It confirms the way I clean my partial dentures as correct."
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