How To Look After Your Dentures

Dentist Blog

If you're new to wearing dentures you may have some questions relating to how you should look after them. Taking care of your dentures will enable you to wear them for several years before you require a new set, but it's also good for your oral health. If you wear dentures that haven't been properly cleaned, you're exposing your gums to bacteria and fungus that can cause infections. Here's what you need to know:

Daily Cleaning

You should clean your dentures every day to remove food and prevent plaque build-up. Here's how:

1.Remove your dentures and rinse them under cold water to remove any food residue. Place a soft towel under your dentures to protect them and begin to gently clean them with a soft-bristled brush and nonabrasive denture cleaner.

2.Remember to clean the underside of your dentures since the grooves that fit against your gums tend to collect food particles. Avoid scrubbing your dentures too hard or you risk damaging their surface.

3.Soak your dentures overnight in water or a dentist-recommended denture-soaking solution. The benefit of using a denture-soaking solution instead of water is that many commercial soaking solutions contain stain removal ingredients. Most dentures need to stay moist at all times, or they may crack or lose their shape, so try not to forget this step.

4.Before using your dentures the next day, rinse them under cold water and brush them once more to remove any residue from the denture-soaking solution as this can irritate your gums.

5.Remove your dentures after every meal and rinse them under cold water to remove food debris and prevent the build-up of bacteria.

Cleaning Products You Should Avoid

Products containing bleach can discolour your dentures and weaken them over time, which could result in them breaking or bending out of shape. Abrasive toothpastes and stiff-bristled brushes should be avoided as they can scratch the surface of your dentures, leaving tiny grooves for bacteria to thrive in. Additionally, you should avoid rinsing your dentures in hot water, which could warp them and leave you with dentures that no longer fit properly.

Special Considerations

If you have sensitive gums, you may have been given dentures with a special soft lining to minimise irritation. The soft lining can be damaged easily, so only use denture cleaning products specifically recommended by your dentist. If you have dentures with metal attachments, you should be aware that some denture cleaners can tarnish and corrode the metal, so ask your dentist what brands of cleaner are suitable.

If you're finding it difficult to keep your dentures clean or you notice a build-up of plaque or tartar on your dentures, ask a dentist, such as those found at The Denture Centre, to give them a professional clean. 

Share

18 March 2015