There are a lot of myths out there about what denture cleaners can and can’t do, so before you try them on your real teeth, make sure you know the facts.
This article will explore the effects of denture cleaner on real teeth and how to dilute denture cleaner properly, what to avoid when using it, and some potential dangers.
Can you use a denture cleaner on real teeth?
The answer is a resounding yes! You can use denture cleaner on real teeth, but it’s important to remember that denture cleaner is not made for or safe to use on natural teeth. It would be best if you only used it on your dentures.
Also Read: Dentures: 20 Questions Answered
Dentures are made of acrylic and plastic, making them more porous than natural teeth. This means they have larger areas of contact with the bacteria in your mouth, making them more likely to develop odor or discoloration over time.
Denture cleaners are designed to give you a more pleasant-smelling and healthy-looking set of false teeth by removing bacteria from where you wear them in your mouth. For this reason, they’re very effective at cleaning your dentures but not so great at cleaning your actual teeth.
What chemicals in denture cleaner are harmful to health?
Denture cleaner typically contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), which can harm the skin and eyes. It also contains other chemicals that can be harmful, such as ammonia and chlorine. These chemicals can cause irritation and inflammation, leading to health problems.
SLS can cause skin irritation, skin cancer, and eye irritation. Ammonia can damage the lungs, and chlorine can harm the respiratory system.
Can denture cleaner damage gums?
Whether denture cleansers can harm gums is a matter of some discussion. Some people say it can be harmful if it is not diluted properly. Some assert that it is safe to use if done correctly.
It is important to remember that denture cleaners are designed to clean dentures and not real teeth, so it is important to use the correct amount and dilute the cleaner if necessary.
If you are unsure how to dilute the cleaner, speak with a dentist or dental professional.
Also Read: Can you swallow your dentures?
Does denture cleaner harm tooth enamel?
Denture cleaners are used to clean dentures. However, some worry that this cleaner could damage tooth enamel.
To test this theory, scientists from the University of Iowa took small samples of human tooth enamel and treated them with different types of denture cleaners. They found that gentle and aggressive denture cleaners caused significant damage to the enamel. The researchers found that aggressive cleaners were more likely to damage tooth enamel than harsh water washes.
What are some harsh chemicals found in denture cleaners?
The active component in many denture cleansers purchased in supermarkets and drug shops is perborate, sometimes known as borax. The active components in certain variants include hypochlorite, often known as bleach, and persulfate, also known as sulfur. The only product on the market that utilizes Buffered Alkali as the active component is Plastic Denture Cleaner. Alkali is the active ingredient in many household cleansers, such as dishwasher liquid, shampoo, bar soap, and clothes washing detergent. Alkali can also be found in toothpaste.
Hypochlorite
However, one bleaching chemical is termed hypochlorite. Consider the substance chlorine bleach. Consider the chlorine that is present in a swimming pool. The bleach concentration in the cleaner is unquestionably higher than chlorine in a swimming pool. It may be at least as high as the concentration of bleach solution that you might use, for instance, to remove stains from a porcelain bowl.
In addition to causing silver to tarnish, chlorine is responsible for the metal in gold jewelry deteriorating in specific regions. This is particularly accurate in the case of white gold.
Persulfate
Persulfate is a chemical that is added to flour in extremely minute amounts by bakers to prepare it for use in bread production. When this chemical is in its concentrated state, it can be used to “etch” copper!
It is so powerful that it may eat away at the copper metal.
Copper is found in the gold used to produce the majority of jewelry, and there is a genuine danger of harm to areas of the ring where the metal used to form the ring is placed together.
These are solder junctions, and the chemical may weaken the metal over time.
Also Read: What is a denture reline?
Alkali
Alkali refers to a category of chemicals that perform the same reactions. An excellent illustration of this is lye. One further option is to use oven cleaning. Another is dish detergent. You must understand that the chemical’s potency determines its potentially harmful effects. You can get burned by lye. Dish detergent is very safe to use and performs an excellent job cleaning dishes and jewelry.
An alkaline denture cleaning is safe to use. Gold and diamonds are typically unaffected by the presence of alkali.
Can denture cleaners remove plaque from your real teeth?
Plaque is a slimy build-up on teeth caused by bacteria. It can form on any tooth surface, including the enamel and the dentin. Denture cleaners can remove plaque from your real teeth, but it might not be the best idea.
Denture Cleaners on Real Teeth: Final Word
Denture cleaners are made to be used on dentures. Dentures are made of plastic, which means they’re porous, so they absorb the chemicals in the cleaning solution.
Real teeth aren’t made of plastic, so they don’t absorb those chemicals. They just get wet, making them feel even more sensitive than they already are after a cleaning session.
Sources:
- University of Iowa
- Polident
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