Dentures are a great way to restore a smile, maintain the ability to chew food, and contribute to your overall quality of life. Even though denture teeth are false, it is still important to provide proper care and maintenance for your dentures, as you would natural teeth. Dirty dentures look and smell unpleasant, are unhygienic, and can cause bad breath and gum disease. To optimize the look and performance of your dentures, it is necessary to learn how to properly clean and maintain your dentures.
Here are the best ways to provide regular and proper care for your dentures:
Clean and brush your dentures daily
Even though dentures are not natural teeth, they need to be brushed at least once daily. Brushing them twice a day is even better, and highly encouraged. Cleaning your dentures regularly prevents plaque build-up, reducing your risk of gum disease and bad breath.
Use non-abrasive denture cleansers
Avoid using regular toothpaste, which can be too abrasive for dentures, causing tiny scratches and cracks. The damage caused to dentures will allow food particles and bacteria to become trapped, eventually causing bad breath and other complications. Instead, use non-abrasive denture paste, which is designed to be gentle yet provide thorough cleaning power.
Use a denture brush or a soft-bristled brush
Softer bristles are gentler on false teeth and will prevent damage such as cracks and scratches to the surface of your dentures.
Rinse with warm water
Food particles can get stuck in your dentures, causing plaque and bacteria. After a meal, make sure you rinse your dentures with warm water to wash away food particles and debris.
Soak your dentures
It’s important to remove your dentures at night and soak them in lukewarm water or a denture-cleaning solution. It is recommended to take out your dentures for at least 6 hours a day to give your gums a chance to rest. When they are not in your mouth, soaking your dentures prevents them from becoming brittle, warping and losing their shape. Overnight soaking in a cleaning solution also kills bacteria, keeping them clean while you sleep.
Take proper care of your gums and mouth
Keeping your gums healthy is crucial for general oral health. Gently brush and massage any remaining teeth, gums, tongue, and roof of the mouth every morning and evening. This prevents tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral complications.
Visit your denturist for regular check-ups
To ensure proper alignment and comfort, visiting your denturist at least once a year to check if your dentures are fitting properly is a key step in denture maintenance. Your denturist will adjust the fit of your dentures as needed since the shape of your gums can shift over time. They will also professionally examine your dentures and check your oral health for signs of complications, infections, and other conditions.
Proper storage
When your dentures are not in your mouth, store them in water or a denture solution. Never leave your dentures to dry out and never use hot water, which could cause dentures to lose their shape.
Dentures provide many benefits such as improving your speech, restoring your beautiful smile and the ability to bite and chew food. That’s why proper care and maintenance of your dentures is crucial to maintaining good oral health and having your smile look its best. Practicing proper denture hygiene minimizes the buildup of food particles and bacteria, preventing plaque which can cause bad breath, infections, gum disease, and oral complications. This will allow your dentures to last longer, keep your mouth healthy, and save you from unwanted procedures down the road. Get in touch with South Calgary Denture & Implant Clinic to schedule a complementary consultation!
