Why is Soaking the Best Cleansing Method

The key to keeping your dental appliance fresh and flawless for its entire lifetime is to soak it in a cleansing solution every day, starting from when you first receive it.  

Dental appliances require an oral hygiene routine just like our natural teeth. The main difference in routines is the methods and products used. Since dental appliances are made with a variety of materials that are often softer than our teeth, they need to be cleansed with a strong yet non-abrasive cleaner.  

Many dental appliance wearers assume that they can use toothpaste for both their natural teeth and dental appliance when in fact, they shouldn’t. Toothpaste contains abrasives that are ideal for gently removing plaque, polishing your teeth, and breaking down/dissolving stains. * Unfortunately, the abrasives found in toothpaste actually scratch and damage the surface of most dental appliances. Although the damage is not visible to the naked-eye, the accumulation of scratches can make your appliance become opaque and less vibrant in color.  

Moreover, other cleansing methods such as using baking soda, dish soap, or other competitor cleanser brands (that may contain harsh chemicals or chlorine) may discolor or harm your appliance overtime.  

In order to avoid damaging your dental appliance, we recommend soaking it in a non-abrasive cleansing solution, DAILY. In fact, the American College of Prosthodontists (ACP) recommends that dentures be cleaned daily by soaking and brushing with an effective, non-abrasive denture cleanser to reduce levels of biofilm and potentially harmful bacteria and fungi.^[i] 

^[i] Felton, D., Cooper, L., Duqum, I., Minsley, G., Guckes, A., Haug, S., … & Deal Chandler, N. (2011). Evidence‐based guidelines for the care and maintenance of complete dentures: A publication of the American College of Prosthodontists. Journal of Prosthodontics: Implant, Esthetic and Reconstructive Dentistry, 20, S1-S12. 

Choose the Ola Fresh Dental Appliance Cleanser for your appliance’s soaking needs. The Ola Fresh Cleanser is a safe, non-abrasive solution that does not require the use of sonic waves for cleansing. Its strength and concentration provides a deep cleaning in 15 to 30 minutes and keeps your appliance minty fresh.  

* https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/oral-health/how-toothpaste-works-to-clean-teeth#:~:text=What’s%20in%20a%20toothpaste%3F,dissolve%20stains%20and%20remove%20plaque.