If you are new to wearing dentures, there are a lot of care instructions that you need to know in order to keep your dentures in great condition. However, there are many things that you definitely should not do to clean your dentures at home.

Avoid Boiling Water

You always want to use cold or warm water to clean your dentures, which can then be washed with mild soap or toothpaste. Some people think that boiling dentures will be a great way to kill off any bacteria on them, but that can actually harm the dentures instead. This is because boiling water will cause the dentures to change shape and not fit your mouth as well. 

Avoid Bleach

It is important to know how to clean your dentures, as harsh chemicals can really hurt them and cause the dentures to deteriorate. That is why it's crucial to never wash your denture with bleach. It will actually change the color of the denture material and cause the metal components of the dentures to corrode. Instead, you should stick to the approved denture cleaning solutions provided by your dentist. 

In addition, harsh chemicals may not be completely washed away before you put the dentures back into your mouth. You do not want to be doing this because it means you can accidentally ingest these chemicals and have health complications as a result. 

Avoid The Dishwasher

Another method that people sometimes think will work to clean their dentures is by putting them into the dishwasher. Much like using boiling water, hot water and steam cause dentures to change shape. Dentures are not designed to be put into the dishwasher, for the same reason many dishware items are not dishwasher safe. 

Avoid Cleaning With Sharp Objects

Do not get out a dental scaler, a knife, or any sort of sharp tool to get rid of the plaque that is on the dentures. What happens is that using a sharp object will make the surface rough by removing the polished surface, and now there is an environment where plaque will build up even more. The smooth surface is designed to allow plaque to slide off the surface rather than stick to it. That is why you always want to stick to cleaning dentures only with a toothbrush. 

Reach out to a dentist in your area for more information about how to care for your dentures.