I’ve been using those fizzy cleaning tablets for my dentures, but my aunt swears by soaking hers in a cup of vinegar and water every night. I feel like the tablets are easier, but sometimes I wonder if they really get things as clean as the old-school soak. Has anyone tried both? Is there a big difference in taste or freshness afterward, or is it just personal preference?
Tablets vs. soaks: Which is better for cleaning dentures?
I’ve actually wondered the same thing. I started out using the fizzy tablets because they just seemed so straightforward—drop one in, wait a bit, done. But my grandma always used vinegar and water, and she’d say it left her dentures “squeaky clean.” I tried the vinegar soak a couple times when I ran out of tablets, and honestly, the taste was a little weird for me the next morning. Maybe I didn’t rinse them enough? Or maybe I just notice the vinegar more because I’m not used to it.
With the tablets, I do like that minty-ish smell, even if it’s kind of artificial. I always wonder if they’re actually disinfecting as much as they claim, though. Sometimes I’ll see a little bit of buildup left, which makes me think maybe I should be brushing them more after soaking, no matter what I use. The vinegar definitely seemed to cut through some of the gunk better, but then again, it’s not as convenient as just tossing in a tablet.
I haven’t noticed a huge difference in how fresh my mouth feels afterward, except for that lingering vinegar taste. I guess it depends on whether you care more about convenience or that old-school “deep clean” feeling. Has anyone else had their dentures get stained over time with just tablets? I’m curious if the vinegar helps with that, or if it’s just one of those things where you have to try both and see what feels right for you.
Honestly, I keep going back to the tablets out of habit, but sometimes I wonder if I’m missing out by not doing the soak more often. Maybe it’s one of those “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” things... or maybe I’m just lazy.
“Has anyone else had their dentures get stained over time with just tablets? I’m curious if the vinegar helps with that...”
I’ve worried about staining too. I used tablets for years, but I started noticing this faint yellowish tint that wouldn’t budge. My daughter suggested the vinegar soak, and it did help lighten things up a bit, but I can’t stand that aftertaste either. I get nervous about trying new things—what if I mess up my dentures somehow? For now, I’m back to tablets and brushing, but I still second-guess myself every time I see a spot that won’t come off...
Tablets vs. soaks is one of those debates where I feel like there’s no perfect answer. I’ve noticed the same yellowish tinge after a while with just tablets, even though I’m pretty diligent about brushing too. It’s frustrating when you feel like you’re doing everything “right” and still see those stubborn spots.
I tried the vinegar soak once after reading about it online—just a quick dip, not an overnight thing—and it did seem to brighten things up, but that smell lingered for ages. I rinsed and brushed and still felt like I could taste it. That kind of put me off using vinegar regularly, especially since I started worrying about whether it might damage the denture material over time. Some folks swear by it, but I guess I’m a bit cautious.
One thing that helped me was switching up my brushing routine. I started using a super soft brush and a non-abrasive toothpaste (my dentist warned against anything gritty). And instead of just letting the tablets do their thing, I give the dentures a gentle scrub after soaking, which seems to help with surface stains.
I’ve also heard that certain foods and drinks—like coffee or tea—can make staining worse, even if you’re cleaning every day. Cutting back on those made more difference than any cleaning product for me, honestly.
It’s tough because you want them to look clean but also don’t want to risk damaging them with harsh stuff. My dentist mentioned that occasional professional cleanings can help if stains really build up, but I haven’t tried that yet.
If anyone’s found something that works without weird tastes or risking damage, I’d love to hear about it... For now, it’s just trial and error and hoping for the best when I check in the mirror each morning.
Reading through these posts makes me feel a little better about my own trial-and-error approach. I’ve stuck with tablets mostly because of the convenience, but I did try a vinegar soak once after my neighbor suggested it. The aftertaste was really strong—felt like I was chewing on a salad for half the day, ha. I also got a bit anxious about whether it would mess up the finish on my dentures.
I’ve noticed even with tablets, sometimes there’s a faint “not quite fresh” feeling, especially if I forget to rinse them extra well. My dentist actually recommended alternating between tablets and just plain warm water some nights, to avoid any buildup from the cleaners themselves. It hasn’t been perfect, but at least things don’t taste weird anymore. Guess it really is about finding what you can live with and not stressing too much over every little stain.
