If your dentures have lost their sparkle & are looking a bit dull or stained, you can safely remove surface discoloration & get them looking great again. However, the truth is, you can’t whiten dentures like natural teeth because acrylic & porcelain just don’t respond to your average bleaching agents and treatments.
Whitening strips, peroxide gels, whitening toothpaste & all those other products that whiten natural teeth won’t touch dentures & can actually end up damaging them. Instead, stick to safe methods of cleaning and polishing your dentures or get a professional whitening to remove stains without harming the material.
Can Denture Stains Be Whitened The Same Way As My Natural Teeth?
Not quite. You can get rid of denture stains, but you can’t lighten your dentures beyond their original color. Unlike natural teeth, which can usually be whitened back to a pretty white, dentures are made from materials like acrylic resin or porcelain that just don’t respond to traditional teeth-whitening techniques or products.
For those tough stains, though, your dentist may recommend a professional clean, a repair, or even a replacement.
What Causes Stains On My Dentures?
Denture stains come from all sorts of things, mainly from pigmented foods and drinks, and deposit buildup on the surface can change your smile’s appearance. Some of the most common causes include
- Drinking coffee, red wine, or any other dark liquid
- Certain foods like tomato sauce, curry, soy sauce, or berries
- Smoking or tobacco use
- Not cleaning your dentures properly or at all
- Aging, scratches, and tiny cracks that trap stains
Daily cleaning, proper soaking & regular dental checkups can really help stop stains in their tracks & keep your dentures looking shiny and new.
Safe Ways to Whiten Dentures & Remove Stains
Daily Cleaning Routine
To keep your dentures looking their best, you should clean them each day. Have a quick rinse under cool water after meals to get rid of food particles, then gently brush them with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a mild cleaner. Avoid using regular, harsh toothpaste; it’s too harsh & can scratch them. Daily brushing with a mild dish soap or a denture paste will help keep them clean.
Soaking Overnight
Soaking your dentures in cleaner overnight is a great way to get rid of stains and bacteria. Effervescent denture cleansing solutions are made just for this; they help lift stains without damaging the material. Just pop a tablet in some lukewarm water, soak your dentures & then rinse them before wearing them again. Denture cleaning tablets will get rid of surface stains and any stinky bacteria.
Baking Soda, Hydrogen Peroxide? Home Remedies That Work (But Only Go So Far)
- Baking Soda: A bit of baking soda can be used as a mild abrasive to get rid of surface stains on your dentures. Just mix it with a bit of water to make a paste & use a soft-bristled brush, but don’t scrub too hard or you might scratch them.
- Vinegar: Soaking your dentures in equal parts white vinegar & water can help get rid of mineral deposits. A 30-minute soak followed by a brush is just what you need for a bit of light buildup.
- Hydrogen Peroxide: Very dilute solutions can help lift stains, but be careful; hydrogen peroxide can also cause your dentures to warp if they’re a bit flexible. Always ask your dentist for advice before trying this.
What to Avoid
| Method | Risk |
| Hot water or boiling water | Can permanently warp dentures |
| Household bleach | Can damage denture materials and should be avoided |
| Lemon juice or strong acids | Etches and strips color from acrylic |
| Abrasive powders or charcoal | Scratch surfaces, worsen staining |
| Bleaching products for natural teeth | Do not work and may cause uneven discoloration |
Avoid abrasive cleaners since they can scratch denture surfaces and worsen staining.
Professional Denture Cleaning
If home care isn’t getting the job done, a professional denture clean can really bring them back to life. Non-abrasive cleaners can polish them up & get rid of stains, but when that isn’t enough, professional denture cleaning using ultrasonic cleaners and polishing tools can really get the job done. Your dentist can also whiten your dentures if he focuses on polishing and stain removal rather than chemical bleaching, and treatment can usually be completed during a routine appointment.
The Benefits of Professional Denture Whitening vs DIY Whitening
Either at-home denture cleaning or professional denture whitening services in the dental office has its place. A study comparing mechanical-only vs. combination cleaning over three weeks found significantly better stain reduction & bacterial counts when using the combined approach.
If you only need to:
- Get rid of mild, light stains
- Use a bit of baking soda or a mild cleaner
Then DIY is probably enough
If you need:
- Professional help to get rid of stubborn stains
- To have your heavily discolored dentures thoroughly polished & checked for any damage
- To have your dentures professionally cleaned every 6 months
It’s definitely time for your dentist to restore your dentures.
During a professional denture appointment, your dentist will remove any hardened deposits, polish the surface to get it smooth again, check for any cracks, and check the fit against your gums & any remaining natural teeth or dental implants. Professional cleaning takes just a few minutes to do & can get your dentures looking like new again. Dentists recommend patients get professional cleaning every six months.
Professional denture whitening can’t actually make dentures any lighter than their original shade. If the replacement teeth were made in a darker color, the only way to get a brighter shade is by having new teeth or a new denture made up. Costs are usually similar to a routine cleaning, though lab work can add a bit extra. Medicare generally doesn’t cover routine dental services, so check your plan details.
How to Maintain Your Artificial Teeth Stain-Free
Daily cleaning, proper soaking, and regular dental checkups can help prevent stains and keep your dentures looking fresh and clean.
Preventing stains is way easier on the wallet and way less hassle than trying to get rid of stubborn discoloration once it’s happened. Regular maintenance of your dentures is actually a key to keeping the stains at bay and cutting down on bacterial growth.
- Nightly routine: Get into the habit of taking out your dentures at night, brush them gently over a soft towel, using a special denture brush like it’s supposed to be used and a denture cleanser, of course, and give them a good soaking in some fresh cleaning solution overnight.
- Partial dentures: Even if you’ve got partial dentures, your own teeth do still need regular brushing and flossing to keep the whole mouth looking good. And don’t forget about your gums and teeth; whether you’ve got implants or not, you still want to be on top of your fluoride care.
- Drink responsibly: Do yourself a favour and have a glass of water or a quick rinse in the sink after you’ve had something like coffee, tea, red wine, dark soda or a big plate of tomato sauce. And try to keep the highly pigmented foods to a minimum if you can.
- Kick the habit: Stopping or quitting smoking or vaping is probably the single best thing you can do to keep your dentures looking their best, and not turning all yellow.
- Schedule regular checkups: Even if you’ve got a full set of dentures, it’s still worth getting in to see your dentist every six months. They can give your dentures a good deep clean, check out your gums and any implants you may have, and even make some adjustments to the fit to keep things comfy as your mouth changes over time.
