Everyone wants a bright white smile — unfortunately, both natural teeth and dental prosthetics, including dentures — may incur stains over time. What should you do if your artificial teeth are starting to look a little dull or discolored? This blog post provides tips on how to remove denture stains in Plymouth and keep new stains to a minimum.
Soak Your Denture
If you usually soak your denture in water overnight, now may be the time to start using a designated denture-soaking solution instead. Prepare the solution according to its instructions, and let your prosthetic sit in it for several hours. When you remove your denture and thoroughly rinse it, it is likely that it will have fewer and less noticeable surface stains.
Get Your Denture Professionally Cleaned
Dental professionals have specialized training and equipment that, in many cases, can make a denture look like new. Not only will your dental team clean and polish your prosthetic, but they will also inspect it to make sure it is in good shape. A professional cleaning is recommended twice a year — it can coincide with your regular checkups.
Preventing New Stains
Once you have your denture looking its best, you will likely want to keep it that way. Here are a few tips to help you out:
- Clean it nightly. Gently brushing your denture every night with approved cleaning products can do much to prevent pigments and food debris from altering its appearance.
- Limit your consumption of highly pigmented foods and beverages. Things like tomato products, coffee, and red wine all have a relatively high staining potential. When you drink dark beverages, you can minimize their contact with your teeth by enjoying them through a straw.
- Do not smoke. Nicotine stains on dentures can be particularly difficult to remove, so it is best to avoid all tobacco products.
What Not to Do
In your efforts to keep your dentures looking their best, there are a few things that you definitely should not do, including:
- Using household cleaning products. Things like bleach and glass cleaner might damage your dentures. Plus, the chemicals in them might cling to your prosthetic and cause you to become ill.
- Using teeth whitening products. Things like white strips and whitening toothpastes can have modest brightening results for natural teeth. However, they are generally not effective on dentures.
- Using abrasive products. Abrasive toothpastes and hard-bristled toothbrushes might seem like good ways to scrub away stains. However, they are likely to scratch your dentures. Afterward, it will be easy for pigment to collect in those scratches and adversely affect your dentures’ appearance.
Do you want to whiten your dentures in Plymouth? The above tips can help you enjoy a bright and confident smile.
Meet the Practice
The dentists at Aveni Dental Professionals are skilled, experienced, and compassionate. They are happy to provide dentures and denture maintenance services. If you are curious about how to care for your dental prosthetic, or you have questions about other aspects of oral health, our team would be pleased to speak with you. Contact us at 508-217-7454.