How to Whiten Stained Dentures

Overview

We all have an Aunt Bessie or an Uncle Ed who, for some unknown reason, likes to pull out their choppers in the middle of dinner and give everyone a good show. Dentures are found in people who have lost their teeth either from decay, periodontal disease or trauma to the mouth. Dentures aren't just a cosmetic fix for the mouth. According the the American Dental Association, dentures keep the skin on the face from sagging and causing you to look older. But, just like teeth, dentures can get dirty.

Step 1

Be proactive. Dentures don't get stained unless you allow them to get stained. Just like regular teeth, dentures can get built-up food particles and plaque. It's best to brush them daily. The ADA recommends that you use a denture brush to clean your dentures. If you don't have a denture brush, use a regular toothbrush, but one with soft bristles. A hard-bristled brush can damage the surface and edges of the denture. A mild soap is fine for everyday, preventative cleaning.

Step 2

Use a denture cleaner. You can approach this from one of two ways: Go see your dentist and have him/her recommend a good, safe denture cleaning product, or do it on your own. The grocery store should have a variety of denture cleaning products to chose from. Make sure that the product you purchase has the ADA seal. These denture cleaners have been inspected and approved by the ADA for safety and effectiveness.

Step 3

Use a bleach solution. Household bleach can be used to remove discoloration from dentures but it must be diluted. Take one part bleach to 10 parts water and soak the dentures for 20 to 30 minutes. This will not only kill bacteria and microorganisms that have attached themselves to the surface of the dentures, it will also take away any discoloration or staining of the denture. A word of caution if you are going to use a bleach solution. Bleach can take the color out of the pink, artificial gums, turning them white. It's kind of a trade-off if you have badly stained dentures.