Are denture cleansing tablets suitable for daily use?

• Published in: Zeitschrift für Gerontologie und Geriatrie Vol. 44; no. 3; p. 192
• Main Authors: Blankenstein, F H, Peroz, I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: German
• Published: Germany 01.06.2011
• Subjects: Denture Cleansers - chemistry; Denture Cleansers - classification; Dentures; Oral Hygiene - methods
• ISSN: 1435-1269
• DOI: 10.1007/s00391-010-0153-2

Sufficient denture hygiene is very important in particular for immunocompromised and bedridden patients to reduce the risk posed by the aspiration of pathogenic microorganisms. In addition to mechanical cleansing, chemical denture cleansers are suitable for daily use at home. However, they continue to be seen as problematic because they are said to damage the denture material. These prejudices are based on studies of products with highly alkaline pH values, which in addition contain strong bleaching agents, e.g., hypochlorite. In Germany, denture cleansing tablets available over the counter belong to the group of neutral or weakly alkaline peroxides and are much less aggressive, which is why no side effects are reported from accidental ingestion. In vitro studies show that nursing staff can significantly contribute to denture hygiene by regularly applying the easy-to-use method of chemical cleansing. In particular as regards the residents of care facilities, it reasonably supplements mechanical cleansing without damaging the dentures.