If washing in a washing machine, make sure the dishes are placed on the uppermost dishwasher rack to avoid exposing the plastic to high temperatures. Rinse and dry before continuing. Sunlight has a bleaching effect on plastic, and a few hours of exposure can remove stains, and will help deodorize your plastic dishes. Leave your dishes stain side up in front of an open window, or in a suitable outdoor location where sunlight is plentiful. After a few hours, check to see if the stains have lifted. Baking soda and vinegar are convenient options, and are effective at dissolving many common varieties of food stains. Either soak your plastic dishes in a solution of baking soda, vinegar and warm water (roughly 1 tbsp each of baking soda and vinegar for every cup of water) for 1-2 hours, or scrub the dish using a baking soda paste (made by combining a small amount of baking soda with just enough vinegar or water to make it sticky). Alternately, you can use salt and lemon juice, instead of baking soda and vinegar, to create a scrubbing paste. Another common household alternative to baking soda and vinegar is rubbing alcohol, which can be applied via soaking, or simply by scrubbing the alcohol into the affected area of the plastic dish. These products can be surprisingly effective at lifting stains out of plastic dishes, especially cups and bowls. Simply fill the cup or bowl with water and drop two denture cleaner or antacid tablets inside, and soak overnight before washing and rinsing. Bleach is potent and somewhat hazardous, but is a good last-resort when other approaches have failed to remove stains. Carefully combine bleach and water at a ratio of roughly one part bleach per two parts water, then allow the plastic dishes to soak in the solution for 30 minutes, then thoroughly rinse the dishes. Bleach is a very caustic substance, and you should be sure to wear rubber gloves to protect your hands from contact with it. Also make sure the space you are working in is well ventilated, so that the fumes produced by the bleach are safely dissipated.

Summary: Wash dishes thoroughly to ensure that no food remains on their surfaces. Set the dishes in strong sunlight for at least two hours. Try applying a solution of baking soda and vinegar. Try using an oxygenating agent, like denture cleaner or a fizzing antacid tablet. Soak the dishes in a solution of chlorine bleach.

Find out what is causing your dry mouth. Your doctor or dentist may be able to spot symptoms of gene disorders, medication side effects, allergies, or other untreated causes of dry mouth. Make an appointment, and write down any symptoms you have been experiencing and any treatments you have tried. Bring information about your diet, smoking habits, oral hygiene routines, medications, and medical history. Bring a complete list of prescription and over-the counter medications that you take regularly. Take inventory of the medications you currently take. If you take any medications, these may add to your dry mouth symptoms. Dry mouth is one of the most common side effects for over a thousand prescription and over-the-counter medications. If you have been prescribed medication for depression, anxiety, nerve pain, or other pain management, that may be the cause of your dry mouth. Cancer patients undergoing radiation and chemotherapy often experience dry mouth. This can be a temporary change, or it can be chronic radiation to the head and throat may permanently damage the salivary gland. Talk to your physician about treating your symptoms. Older people often experience dry mouth as a result of medications. There are serious medical conditions that trigger dry mouth. If you experience dry mouth as well as dry eyes, talk to your doctor about Sjogren's syndrome, a disorder that affects the immune system, and is predominantly found in women aged 30 50. Your doctor may be able to prescribe certain medicines to decrease these symptoms. Dry mouth can be a side effect of many conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, thyroid dysfunction, cerebral palsy, and endocrine disorders. If you have already been diagnosed with one of these conditions, ask your doctor about the possibility of dry mouth being a side effect. If you have recently had a bone marrow transplant, this may have caused your dry mouth. If you have recently suffered nerve damage to your head or neck, this may have caused your dry mouth. Certain conditions can cause you to misdiagnose yourself with dry mouth. If you have Alzheimer's disease, or if you have recently suffered a stroke, you may perceive your mouth as dry despite normal function of your salivary glands. Check your symptoms: Is your saliva thick or stringy? Have your teeth begun decaying at a faster rate, despite normal oral hygiene? Do you have bad breath? Is it difficult to wear your dentures?
Summary: Talk to your doctor or dentist. Manage your medications. Get tested for autoimmune diseases. Talk to your doctor about your injuries and disorders. Rule out false perceptions.