Which agents are recommended to soak dentures during treatment?

• A. Nystatin or chlorhexidine
• B. Amoxicillin
• C. Hydrogen peroxide only
• D. Salt water only

Answer: (A)

When dentures are part of treating an oral infection, you want a soaking solution that can directly deliver antifungal or antiseptic action to the denture surfaces and the surrounding mucosa. Nystatin is an antifungal used to treat Candida infections like denture-related thrush, and soaking the denture in nystatin helps ensure the medication reaches the areas where Candida hides on the denture and in the mouth. Chlorhexidine is a broad‑spectrum antiseptic that reduces microbial load on both the denture and the mucosa, helping clear infection and prevent reinfection as healing occurs.

Amoxicillin is a systemic antibiotic aimed at bacterial infections, not a topical soak for eradicating fungal infections on denture surfaces. Hydrogen peroxide and salt water can clean and soothe, but they don’t provide targeted antifungal action; hydrogen peroxide can even be harsh on denture materials with frequent use, and salt water alone lacks sufficient antimicrobial potency to treat active Candida infections.