I totally relate to the “keep it clean” advice being super vague. My daughter just got her first partial and I was so nervous about messing up the cleaning routine. She complained about the taste from the tablets too, and honestly, I feel like I’m always second-guessing if I’m doing enough. Has anyone actually had issues from NOT using tablets every night, like infections or anything? Or is it mostly just about buildup and taste?
I get really anxious about this stuff too, and honestly, I wish someone had spelled it out for me when I first got my partial. I skipped the tablets a few times (mostly because of the weird aftertaste), and while I didn’t end up with an infection, I did notice more gunk building up. It’s not just about taste—it’s bacteria too. My dentist warned me that even if you don’t see obvious problems right away, bacteria can sneak in and cause gum irritation or even little sores. I still hate the taste, but now I use the tablets every other night and just brush and soak in water the rest of the time. Seems to be working—haven’t had any issues since.
I get the anxiety—those tablets aren’t cheap, and the taste is weird, yeah. I honestly just use warm water and a soft brush most nights to save money, then do the tablet soak maybe twice a week. Haven’t had any infections or gross buildup, but I do rinse after every meal. Anyone else notice the tablets can make the partial feel a little rough? I wonder if that’s normal or if I’m skimping too much.
Honestly, I’ve noticed the same thing after using the tablets—my partial feels a bit “squeaky” or rough, almost like it’s been stripped of something. I don’t think you’re skimping too much though. I’m super careful with my budget and do the same: daily brushing and rinsing, then tablets just a couple times a week. Haven’t had any issues so far. I do wonder if the roughness is just from the cleaning agents being a little harsh? Maybe over time it could wear things down, but I haven’t seen any real damage yet.
That “squeaky” feeling is exactly what I get after using the tablets, too. I started wondering if it’s actually a sign they’re cleaner or if it means the surface is getting a bit worn down. When I switched to just soaking in plain water with a drop of dish soap every other day, the roughness seemed to go away. Does anyone know if certain tablet brands are harsher than others? I’m curious if it’s the ingredients or just how often we use them.
