What is the Best Toothpaste For Dentures?
Whether you have partial or full dentures, how you care for them cannot be taken lightly. They’re expensive, after all. So what is the best toothpaste for dentures, and how do you use it? We’ve put together this helpful guide to leave you feeling confident in caring for your dentures.
The problem with most regular toothpastes is they have abrasives, which can scratch denture surfaces and create grooves for bacteria to hide in. They can also leave you vulnerable to staining. The best denture toothpaste has a gentler yet sophisticated formula to avoid this.
From big brands like Crest and Arm & Hammer to lesser-known companies such as LIVFRESH and Fixodent, we’ll show you which toothpaste is best for dentures and share tips on making the most of it below.
Different Denture Types
Picking the best denture toothpaste means getting a little more specific about the type you have.
Full dentures replace an entire arch and rest on your gums. They’re made of acrylic resin, which is softer than natural enamel, and thus, more vulnerable to scratching.
On the other hand, partial dentures just fill gaps between natural teeth. That means your toothpaste has to pull double duty - it must clean your teeth and the denture.
Then there are implant-supported dentures, which just snap onto implants already anchored in your jawbone. The denture itself still needs gentle cleaning, but the implant abutment and surrounding gum tissue also need special care to prevent peri-implant disease.
Why You Need the Best Toothpaste For Dentures (and Not a Regular Toothpaste)
Your teeth are made up of enamel, the hardest substance in the human body. Denture acrylic is much softer. The typical toothpaste you see at the drugstore has ingredients like silica, calcium carbonate, and baking soda.
These ingredients may not pose a problem for healthy teeth, but they can certainly create issues for anyone with dentures. They’d slowly but surely score the surface of the dentures, leaving behind microscopic scratches that can become home to bacteria. These marks also look discolored, which can affect your smile.
This is why the American Dental Association (ADA) says you should not use a regular toothpaste for denture care. Rather, you need the best non-abrasive toothpaste for dentures.
What to Look For in the Best Denture Toothpaste
Experts recommend a toothpaste that effectively removes plaque and bacteria without relying on any sort of abrasive action. Here are some of the boxes you’ll want to check.
Abrasive-Free
By far the most important factor - a low RDA number (Relative Dentin Abrasivity). Higher numbers on the RDA scale mean more abrasives are in the formula. Anything over 70 is too abrasive for use with dentures.
Powerful Plaque Fighting
So how does a toothpaste remove plaque if not for abrasive ingredients such as silica, calcium carbonate, and baking soda? LIVFRESH has come up with a one-of-a-kind ingredient that dissolves plaque on a molecular level - Activated Edathamil. It even leaves behind a negative surface charge so new plaque can’t form.
Whitening Properties
Coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco can all stain dentures just like they can real teeth. However, it’s not as simple as choosing a typical whitening formula. Peroxide-based toothpastes can damage the acrylic.
It’s generally best to rely on a formula that stops plaque buildup as its method of keeping your teeth (and dentures) white. You don’t want to risk damaging the material.
Flavor and Experience
You need a toothpaste you can commit to using twice a day, every day. Harsh mint flavors and strong detergents can be really irritating on gum tissue under dentures, especially if you wear full dentures and the gums have to bear the full load of the appliance. You may want a toothpaste without SLS for this reason. Stick with a mild, low-foam formula.
What Toothpaste is Best For Dentures?
We’ve rounded up the top 4 products on the market so you can care for your teeth and dentures the way they deserve. Discover the best toothpaste for dentures below.
LIVFRESH Gum Protect+ Toothpaste
This low-abrasive toothpaste delivers unparalleled gum protection and plaque removal. It combines stannous fluoride with Activated Edathamil to break the molecular bond plaque forms on tooth surfaces without any abrasive activity.
It can reduce gum bleeding and swelling 400% more than an ADA-approved toothpaste. It’s safe for dentures, implants, and all restorations. This is a good pick if you have partial dentures because the fluoride will strengthen enamel on the teeth you have left. It’s the best fluoride toothpaste for adults.
Fixodent Denture Toothpaste
This product targets stains, plaque, and odor-causing bacteria on denture surfaces. It’s easy to get your hands on and is made specifically for dentures. It’s more of a denture cleanser than a toothpaste, though. It’s only ideal if you wear full dentures.
Crest Denture Whitestrips
Struggling with staining? Crest’s Denture Whitestrips could be just what you need to smile confidently once again. This is more of a complementary addition to your oral care regimen than it is a toothpaste, so keep that in mind.
LIVFRESH Original Dental Gel
Looking for the best denture toothpaste without fluoride? Look no further. LIVFRESH makes a formula featuring just Activated Edathamil, which can remove plaque up to 250% better than an ADA-approved alternative. It’s gentle, available in a low-foaming formula, and safe for dentures.
How to Brush With Partial or Implant-Supported Dentures
Remove partial dentures for separate cleaning with a soft denture brush and the best non-abrasive toothpaste for dentures. Then, brush your natural teeth using a formula from LIVFRESH to remove plaque and support the gums.
Make sure you clean the abutments and surrounding gum tissue with precision if you wear implant-supported dentures. You might want to add a good mouthwash for plaque to your oral care routine as well while you’re at it.
Tips on Cleaning Full Dentures
Remove full dentures before cleaning and brush them with a soft denture brush under running water. Then you can add in the denture-specific cleaner you’ve chosen.
DO NOT use hot water. It could warp acrylic. You will soak your dentures overnight in either plain water or a denture solution. This is imperative for preventing dryness/shape loss. The ADA also recommends you clean/rinse your dentures after meals.
Brush your gums, tongue, and palate every morning even if you don’t have natural teeth. This will stimulate circulation to keep tissue healthy, and it’ll also eliminate odor-causing bacteria.
More Denture Care Tips Before We Go
Be sure to always handle your dentures with incredible care. They may not survive a drop from your hands into the sink, let alone onto the floor.
You should plan on visiting your dentist/orthodontist at least once a year to assess the fit of your dentures and look for any jawbone changes that could affect how dentures sit. You’ll also need to anticipate replacing your dentures every 5-7 years. Sooner if you see cracks or warping.
Other than that, the best toothpaste for dentures will help you keep your appliances in tip-top shape. Whether you’re looking for the best toothpaste for dentures or the best remineralizing toothpaste for existing teeth, your search ends at LIVFRESH!
References
- American Dental Association. "Dentures." MouthHealthy.org. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/dentures
- American Dental Association. "Cleaning Your Dentures." ADA.org. https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/dentures
- Felton D. et al. "Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Care and Maintenance of Complete Dentures." Journal of Prosthodontics, 2011; 20(S1):S1-S12. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-849X.2010.00683.x
