Dentures should be disinfected every night and soaked to remove calculus (tartar) and stains. If your dentures are free of stains and calculus, dentists usually only recommend soaking your teeth in water every night. However, if you start to see stains and tartar build up, a solution of water and vinegar is just as effective as commercially available denture cleansers at softening tartar so it's easy to clean. The acetic acid in vinegar has been shown to be effective in removing tartar. There's nothing wrong with using a vinegar solution regularly, along with using a bleach solution for a deep disinfection process. We recommend that this vinegar solution method only be used for full dentures, not partial dentures.
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Part 1 of 3: Preparing the Vinegar Solution
Step 1. Find a container large enough to hold your dentures
You can use a glass, cup, bowl, or food container to pour the vinegar solution. Make sure the container is large enough so that the dentures are completely submerged.
Try to use a glass container, as vinegar can damage plastic and other porous materials
Step 2. Purchase distilled white vinegar
We recommend using white vinegar to make this cleaning solution. Cooking vinegar or flavored vinegar can leave an unpleasant taste on your dentures.
- Bottled white vinegar can be purchased fairly cheaply at most supermarkets.
- Do not use apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, or any other vinegar than distilled white vinegar.
Step 3. Mix water and vinegar in equal proportions
Pour a solution consisting of 50% vinegar and 50% water into the container that will be used to soak the dentures. Make sure there is enough solution so that the dentures are completely submerged.
You can make a vinegar and water solution as part of your nighttime routine before going to bed, as well as washing your face or changing into your night clothes. That way, all you have to do is dip your dentures in and then head to bed
Step 4. Consult a dentist before using vinegar
Before deciding to start denture treatment with vinegar solution, get approval from the dentist. Using vinegar as a cleaning solution for partial dentures can be detrimental in the long run.
This is due to the corrosive nature of vinegar on the metal commonly used for partial dentures
Part 2 of 3: Soaking Dentures
Step 1. Soak the dentures for 15 minutes every day
A handy guide you can follow for cleaning partial dentures is to soak them once a day for only 15 minutes. This short soak will soften the tartar build-up on the teeth without breaking the metal attachments found in partial dentures.
Step 2. Soak the dentures in the vinegar solution overnight
If you see a thick layer of tartar (also known as calculus) starting to form on your dentures, it's time to soak them overnight in a vinegar solution. The vinegar solution will weaken the tartar-forming compounds.
- It's best not to soak partial dentures in a vinegar solution overnight, unless your dentist allows it.
- Even if there's no tartar on your dentures, there's nothing wrong with soaking them in a vinegar solution as a precaution.
- Some dentists recommend that if you want to soak your dentures regularly, use a solution consisting of 10% vinegar mixed with water, and the soaking time should not exceed 8 hours.
Step 3. Check the condition of tartar and tooth deposits after soaking
Often the vinegar doesn't actually dissolve the tartar, it just softens it so you can brush it off the next day. Vinegar won't just remove the stain, it just makes it easier for you to clean it with a toothbrush.
Part 3 of 3: Cleaning Dentures
Step 1. Soak the toothbrush in a solution of bleach and water
You should soak a special toothbrush for dentures (denture brush) in a solution of bleach and water (in equal amounts) once a week to prevent bacterial growth. Rinse the toothbrush thoroughly before using it to brush your teeth.
Step 2. Remove the dentures from the vinegar solution
The next day, take the container of vinegar and dentures into the sink and turn on the faucet. Fill the sink, then remove the dentures from the vinegar solution by hand, making sure the dentures are above the water so they don't break if you accidentally drop them while brushing.
Step 3. Brush the dentures with a special toothbrush
Now use a clean toothbrush to brush off the stains and tartar that has formed on the teeth. Brushing your teeth after soaking them overnight in the vinegar solution will also wash away plaque, food particles, and bacteria.
- If the stain won't go away after the first soak, don't worry. Repeat the soaking process until the stain slowly disappears.
- If the stain persists even after soaking your dentures many times, talk to your dentist. This includes coffee stains, yellowish stains, and other stains.
- Scrub the entire surface of the dentures, both inside and out, with a regular toothbrush or a special toothbrush. Wet the toothbrush before use, and brush gently.
Step 4. Rinse the dentures thoroughly
After brushing the entire surface of the dentures, rinse them thoroughly. Rinse your teeth repeatedly until the stains and tartar stick to your teeth, and the vinegar smell is completely gone. In addition, rinsing helps clean the remnants of dirt and removes the vinegar taste on the teeth.
Step 5. Discard the vinegar solution
After soaking your dentures, throw away the vinegar solution. Don't reuse the vinegar solution that's been used, as it now contains dirt that's left behind by stains, tartar, bacteria, and anything else that sticks to your teeth.
