Are You Taking Good Care Of Your Dentures?
Taking good care of your dentures is important not only to help your dentures last as long as possible but to keep your mouth healthy. At Galleria of Smiles, we regularly help patients of all ages learn the ins and outs of caring for dentures. Don’t hesitate to ask for some tips! You can call us anytime.
In the meantime, read the tips below to learn more about caring for your dentures.
Caring For Your Dentures
- Handle with care
Whenever you are handling your dentures, whether cleaning them or taking them out for the night, be sure to handle them very carefully. Make sure to get a good grip on them and stand over a soft surface or a sink full of water just in case you drop them. When your dentures are covered in saliva, they can be very slippery!
- Brush and rinse daily
Just like your natural teeth, your dentures should be cleaned daily. However, there is a right and wrong way to clean dentures. It’s important to make sure you’re cleaning your dentures properly.
Many of our patients are surprised to learn that you’re not supposed to clean dentures with regular toothpaste. While your natural teeth can handle toothpaste, it tends to be too abrasive for dentures. Toothpaste can create tiny, nearly undetectable scratches on the surface of your dentures where food debris and plaque can build up.
Even if your dentures don’t have those microscopic scratches, food debris and plaque can still build up on your dentures, in the same way they do on your natural teeth. That’s why it’s important to brush your dentures daily.
Brushing your dentures helps prevent stains while keeping maintaining your oral health. Be sure to use a toothbrush specifically designed to clean dentures with soft bristles. Avoid hard-bristled brushes because they can scratch your denture.
When brushing your denture, gently brush all surfaces while avoiding damaging any plastic surface or attachments.
It’s also a good idea to rinse your dentures after each meal to avoid a build-up of food debris and to remove any foods that may have become trapped.
- Clean with the right solution
Just like brushing your dentures, it’s important to use the right cleaning solution. Hand soap or mild dishwashing liquid can make great denture cleaners. Some household cleaners, especially bleach should be avoided.
Ultrasonic cleaners work effectively to clean dentures. An ultrasonic cleaner is a small device, similar to a mini bathtub, that holds a cleaning solution. The denture is placed in the tub and sound waves create a wave motion to clean the denture by removing plaque and food debris. However, daily brushing is still required to maintain clean and healthy dentures.
Your best bet when shopping for denture cleaner is to look for the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance. Those products have been evaluated for safety and effectiveness.
At Galleria of Smiles, we’re more than happy to discuss our favorite cleaning solutions and devices with you to help you maintain your oral health!
- Store properly when not in your mouth
When you’re not wearing your dentures, they need to be kept moist or they could dry out and become misshapen. We typically recommend you keep your dentures in a denture cleanser soaking solution or water.
Be aware that if your denture has metal attachments, you’ll likely need to avoid soaking solution as the attachments could tarnish.
Never place your denture in hot water or it could warp.
Call Us Today To Learn More About Denture Care
Whether you’re a new or experience denture wearer, it’s never too late to learn more. At Galleria of Smiles, we’re more than happy to help. You can call us today with any questions or concerns. You can also schedule your next dental cleaning and exam so we can check the fit of your dentures and make sure you’re on the right track for maintaining your oral health.
Call our office today or visit our website and fill out our online form to request an appointment.
