What is plaque?Plaque is the film of saliva and bacteria that collects on any hard surface in your mouth. Plaque collects on natural teeth as well as on dentures. You can see plaque as a whitish or colourless deposit, either on natural teeth where the gums and the teeth meet, or as a coating over the surface of a denture.
How does plaque affect the health of my mouth?
Plaque contains very high numbers of bacteria. If you clean your teeth or dentures thoroughly at least once each day, you will keep at bay the harmful effects of these bacteria. However, once plaque is more than 24 hours old, the toxic substances it releases can cause inflammation of your gums.
If you have natural teeth, the gums around each tooth will become red and inflamed, and will begin to bleed when you brush.
If you wear a denture, plaque will build up on the denture, so that the entire area of your mouth that is covered by the denture will be at risk of inflammation. In some cases, the inflammation may progress to a chronic form of thrush.
What is the most suitable method of cleaning my denture?
You should choose your cleansing method according to the type of denture you have.
1. Acrylic (plastic) dentures
- Remove debris by rinsing the denture and brushing with a soft brush and liquid soap or washing up liquid.
- Remove bacteria by soaking once a day, for 20 minutes only, in a solution of alkaline hypochlorite, such as Dentural or Milton, diluted according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- After soaking, rinse the denture in water, then leave in plain water overnight.
- Remove debris by rinsing the denture and brushing with a soft brush and liquid soap or washing up liquid.
- Soak the denture in alkaline hypochlorite solution (Dentural or Milton) for 10 minutes only or in an effervescent peroxide* (such as Steradent, Super Efferdent, or Boots Smile) for 15 minutes in the evening.
- Rinse the denture thoroughly and leave in cold water overnight.
3. Dentures with a permanent soft lining
Some dentures are fitted with a permanent soft lining that acts as a cushion between the denture and the gums.
- Remove debris by rinsing the denture and brushing with a soft brush and liquid soap or washing up liquid.
- Soak the denture in alkaline hypochlorite solution (Dentural or Milton) for 20 minutes in the evening (or for just 10 minutes if your denture has a metal strengthener). Do NOT use an effervescent denture cleanser on a soft lining: effervescent cleansers will harden the soft lining.
- Rinse the denture thoroughly and leave in cold water overnight.
Sometimes, following extractions or when the lining of the mouth is very inflamed, your dentist may place a temporary soft lining in your denture to aid healing, and to keep you comfortable until your mouth is ready for a more permanent treatment to be carried out. In order to work effectively, temporary linings need to remain soft and flexible. Effervescent peroxide denture cleansers cause considerable damage to temporary soft linings and should be avoided.
The recommended method to clean a denture with a temporary soft lining is:
- Remove debris by rinsing the denture and brushing gently with a soft brush and liquid soap or washing up liquid.
- Soak the denture in alkaline hypochlorite solution (Dentural or Milton) for 10 minutes only each evening.
- Rinse the denture thoroughly and leave in cold water overnight.