G'Day, like many other GNs, we prefer to buy Australian. With toothpaste there has only been one 'normal' type of toothpaste (white, mint flavoured) that is locally made - Cedel brand. It sells for about $2 and is usually hidden in the supermarket behind a post down the bottom. The good old brands like Colgate, Kolynos and Ipana and now made in places like Indonesia where the labour is cheaper, but they are on the shelves for double and sometimes triple the cost of the Cedel brand.  Of late, we've found the Australian Cedel is no longer stocked in some supermarkets - I guess because there is much more profit in a $6 toothpaste than a $2 one.

Now the question:  is there an alternative to toothpaste for false fangs - I can remember my grandfather using salt and also bicarb soda plus I've read where you can use charcoal.  I suppose all you really need is an abrasive to help remove deposits etc, but something that is not too abrasive!!  We're not worried about cost, we just object to buying imported toothpaste.

Any ideas?

Regards

Denis

I have actually been told by the dentist you should just use a brush with gentle soap - even dishwashing detergent. Toothpastes will scratch the material they are made from and that leads to discolouring.
PS I have all my own teeth but my daughter-in-law is my dentist. And by the way, rinse the soap off well - doesn't taste as good as toothpaste!

Thanks for welcome NielnRuth. I often wonder about things the "professionals" tell us....eg use a soft brush......or use a hard brush. I guess at the end of the day whatever works for you. By the way my daughter has a nickname of potty mouth and I don't think it's to do with dental hygiene??

At my workplace, we have several nurses changed with various "portfolios" one of which is dental hygiene. One of the things that surprised me was a warning never to use ordinary toothpaste on dentures. I've been using common toothpaste ever since getting dentures almost 30 years ago. The portfolio holder had learned from a seminar that toothpaste damages the surface of dentures causing not only staining (as per an above post) but it also makes it easier for calcium so stick to the dentures as well. This is what causes that horrible, rough feeling.

As neilnruth says, just use soap and water then rinse well for an every day clean, however if you find that calcium build-up is causing discomfort, simply soak the dentures overnight in a mixture of 50/50 water and white vinegar which is as cheap as chips and can be used on the latter too

Vinegar is very good at removing tarter and calcium build-up. I always carry a small pre-mixed bottle of water and vinegar in the van when I go away.

As far as I'm aware (and please correct me if anyone knows better) I believe the actual teeth used for dentures are still made of either a hard plastic or porcelain. I have the porcelain variety and apart from being more easily broken when dropped, they don't wear away like the plastic ones do, so if the wearer takes great care not to drop them in the hand bowl when cleaning, or does not bite on hard lollies and break a tooth (as I have done twice in the past) then the porcelain ones are the best option if you can afford them in the first place. They're much more expensive initially and to replace a tooth costs around $50-$60.

And on the matter of breakage, it's best to clean them over a bowl of water so that if you do drop them, they fall harmlessly into the water. A folded towel in place of the water will also suffice.

Westmead hosp dental clinic (Sydney) advise to soak dentures in half strength white vinegar overnight