Alkaline Ionized Water Reduced Denture Microorganisms in Lab Tests
Cleansing effect of the alkaline ionized water on microorganisms of the denture surface
Research hubs: Digestive System
This research was done on cells or tissue in a lab, not in people or animals.
- Evidence type
- Laboratory study (cells or tissue)
- Authors
- Young-Mi Kim, Yu-Sung Choi, In-Ho Cho
- Journal
- The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
- Year
- 2011
- Study Type
- Cell Culture
- Participants
- 67
- Delivery
- Water (Electrolysis)
- Outcome
- Positive
- Peer Reviewed
- Yes
- Cited by
- 2 (OpenAlex, as of November 2026)
- Country
- South Korea
TL;DR
Alkaline ionized water, e-WASH, is effective in cleaning dentures by reducing the number and movement of bacteria.
Key Finding
Alkaline ionized water (e-WASH) significantly reduced both the quantity and motility (movement) of multiple types of microorganisms on denture surfaces compared to tap water alone.
Summary
This study tested whether a special alkaline ionized water called e-WASH could clean dentures better than regular tap water by removing bacteria and other microorganisms. Researchers soaked dentures in either e-WASH or tap water for 5 minutes, then examined samples under a microscope to count and observe the microorganisms. The e-WASH solution reduced the amount and activity of most types of bacteria tested, while tap water had minimal effect.
Practical Takeaway
While this study suggests e-WASH may be more effective than tap water for denture cleaning, it was conducted in a laboratory setting on dentures without human use. More research in real-world conditions and with human denture wearers would be needed before drawing firm conclusions about its effectiveness for daily denture care.
Abstract (excerpt)
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cleansing effect of recently developed alkaline ionized water, e-WASH, on microorganisms of the denture surface. Materials and methods: Removable partial and complete dentures were randomly assigned to the experimental group of 41 dentures…