There are so many products out there. Here’s what I tell my patients when they ask “What should I soak my dentures in at night?”
Option 1: Nothing
Denture wearers don’t usually believe me, but denture care doesn’t always mean leaving your teeth in soaking solutions overnight. That’s what the denture cleaning solution companies want us to believe, but it isn’t true. Don’t get me wrong – dentures require proper care and that includes gently cleaning your dentures every night, but a soft bristled toothbrush with soap and water will do the trick.
Leaving your dentures overnight to air dry at least some nights helps stop the growth of yeast on the denture. Dentures require drying time to stop the yeast helps prevent yeast sores and keeps your mouth healthier and happier. What should you soak your dentures in at night? My first response is always “Nothing.”
Option 2: Denture Cleaner
What about denture cleaner? Yes, you can soak your teeth in denture cleanser overnight. However, I wouldn’t recommend doing this every night. In my opinion, soaking your teeth every night in cleaner is a bit over the top and it seems like it dulls the finish on your false teeth faster than normal. I haven’t run scientific tests to verify my opinion, but I’ve seen hundreds of dentures in my life and the ones that are regularly brushed with a soft toothbrush, soap and water every night seem to keep their shine a little better. When patients want to know about denture cleaner and ask “what should I soak my dentures in at night,” I tell them that if I were a denture wearer, I’d use denture cleanser once or twice a week max.
Doing THIS with Your Denture Every Night Is Most Important
Everyone want to know “what should I soak my denture in at night?” but the really important thing isn’t soaking – it’s brushing. Regular brushing is the key to keeping your denture looking and feeling great. Just like natural teeth, your denture accumulates food, plaque and bacteria throughout the day. Gently cleaning this stuff off is critically important to keeping your denture looking and feeling good and to keeping your gums healthy. I personally recommend my patients use an unscented dish soap although there are a number of different soaps or denture cleansing gels and pastes that work as well. The most important thing is to brush your dentures!
Check out this blog to find out why it’s a bad idea to sleep in your denture.
Check out our step-by-step video and blog on how to take proper care of your dentures to keep them in top shape!
Looking for more denture tips and tricks?
Dr. Bec’s put together a great list – check it out!
See what our patients have to say about their experiences!
Are you a new denture wearer who is really frustrated with their new teeth? Check out this blog post for tips.