If your dentures are cracked, but you aren't able to get to a dentist in a timely fashion, then don't despair. You can make a completely safe, non-toxic glue using simple ingredients available at your local grocery store and pharmacy. This glue will securely seal the break, and you will be able to wear your dentures safely until you are able to get them professionally repaired. Below is how to make a gelatin-based glue and use it to temporarily fix your broken dentures:
Tools and materials needed
Step-by-step guide to making gelatin glue and repairing your dentures
1. Thoroughly clean your dentures. For best adhesion of the glue, your dentures should be as clean as possible before attempting a denture repair. As such, fill a bowl with warm water and mix in about five milliliters of liquid dish soap. Place the dentures into the soapy water and allow them to soak for half an hour; remove them and scrub them with a toothbrush to remove any loosened bits of food or other debris. Thoroughly rinse them with tap water to remove all soap suds, then pour isopropyl alcohol over the dentures and set them aside on a layer of paper towels to air dry.
2. Prepare the gelatin glue. Add 180 milliliters of distilled water to a small pan and heat it on medium until it begins to boil. Immediately remove it from the heat and add 30 grams of powdered gelatin to the water. Stir the gelatin into the water vigorously with a whisk until it is completely dissolved; don't allow the gelatin to clump together or you will need to start over.
After the gelatin is dissolved, pour 60 milliliters of vinegar into the pan along with 20 milliliters of glycerin and stir with a spoon. Pour the finished gelatin glue into a clean glass canning jar.
3. Repair the crack in the dentures. After the glue is prepared and your dentures are clean and dry, insert the tip of the food flavor injector into the jar and suction the glue until the injector barrel is full. Carefully manipulate your dentures so the crack is readily visible, then slowly dispense a thin line of glue along the edge of the crack.
Then, use a popsicle stick to spread the glue out beyond the edges of the crack and push the glue into the crack itself; be sure the glue is evenly distributed and set the dentures aside in a safe location for drying. If the glue starts to thicken during use, heat water inside a saucepan and place the jar of glue inside the water; as the water heats, the glue will thin and become usable again.
4. Finish the repair. After the gelatin glue is hardened, visually inspect the dentures to verify the crack has been sealed and the edges are firmly joined together. Apply more glue, if necessary, to any areas that were not adequately glued during the first attempt.
After verifying that the repair is successful, use a super-fine grit sandpaper to lightly sand any sharp or protruding bits of glue, but be careful not to sand into the denture material itself. Wash the dentures in warm, soapy water and rinse them clean.
5. Test the repair. Once you cleaned your newly-repaired dentures, test their fit and note any uncomfortable points inside your mouth. Use the sandpaper to remove any problem areas and continue testing the fit of the dentures until they are comfortable.
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