19 Apr 2023 Complete or partial dentures or removable teeth can be used as a replacement for the lost teeth, fixing the appearance of your face. These artificial teeth are made to resemble the natural ones and are made from an amalgamation of different materials like acrylic and metals. You have to clean them properly every day, irrespective of their originality. Cleaning your dentures includes more than just brushing though, there are other steps involved to keep them clean and maintain a good personal oral and dental hygiene regimen. Stay with us till the end to learn more!
What’s The Best Way to Clean Your Dentures?
Sticky food and plaque stick to dentures as they stick to the natural teeth. Dental plaque is a thin sticky film-like formation of bacteria that forms on the dentures and teeth after consuming food and drinks. If you don’t clean your dentures regularly and properly, you are allowing the plaque to build up, which will then be followed by gum diseases and bad breath. Cleaning your dentures and teeth regularly is important to maintain your overall oral and dental health. Given below is a list of a few things and suggestions that you might want to get to keep your dentures clean:
- A soft-bristled toothbrush
- Water
- Denture cleaning solution or mild soap
- A soft towel
Fix a routine to brush and clean your dentures at least once a day. Brushing them twice- every morning and before retiring to bed works even better. However, it is advisable that you don’t use toothpaste while brushing and cleaning your dentures.
Multiple mainstream toothpaste brands that are available in the market might contain ingredients that can prove to be too harsh and abrasive for your complete or partial dentures. Toothpaste in this category can eventually damage the surface of the dentures, leading to tiny cracks and scratches.
It is advisable that you brush your dentures with a gentle and soft-bristled toothbrush made especially for dentures. These toothbrushes are designed to prevent scratches and cracks on the surface of your dentures.
Brushing is important, however, only brushing doesn’t suffice to clean dentures alone. To maintain your dentures for a longer term, you are required to clean them thoroughly every night after taking them out.
Cleaning Instructions
Step 1.
Place a soft and clean towel on the counter before taking your dentures out. If you happen to drop your dentures accidentally, the towel with provide the necessary cushioning and save it from any damage.
Step 2.
Take the dentures out of your mouth and rinse to wash them with warm water.
Step 3.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently brush your dentures and remove the bacteria, plaque, and food particles from them. Clean all the surface areas of the denture. You can also choose to use a denture cleanser or mild soap and warm water. Brushing also loosens and gets rid of any denture adhesive. After the brushing is done, rinse it with warm water.
Step 4.
If you are retiring to your bed, soak the dentures in warm or lukewarm water. You can also use a denture-soaking solution to soak your dentures overnight. You don’t want your dentures to dry out. Dryness can lead dentures to lose their shape and become structurally more brittle. Rinse your dentures in the morning before putting them back on. It is recommended that you don’t soak your dentures in hot water. Heat can alter the shape and integrity of the material.
How Often Should You Clean Your Dentures?
Your dental health experts recommend that you thoroughly clean your dentures at least once every day. It’s even better if you could brush your dentures twice every day.
Brushing your dentures after you wake up in the morning and before wearing them back on. on the other hand, you should soak your dentures in a mild soap or a dental cleansing solution every night before retiring to your bed.
We have already mentioned that it is not ideal to use toothpaste to brush your dentures. However, you should brush your gums and tongue, with toothpaste at least two times every day. This helps you maintain the health conditions of your gum and prevents bad breath.
If you happen to have partial dentures, it is important that you don’t forget to brush and floss your remaining natural teeth at least twice every day.
Rinsing and cleaning your mouth with mouthwash also promote and contribute to the maintenance of oral health conditions. You might take off your dentures before using the mouthwash, or you can also choose to use mouthwash that has been specifically designed for denture wearers.
What Are the Best Ways to Maintain Your Dentures?
Dentures can last up to 7-10 years on average when they are maintained or taken care of properly and regularly.
Maintenance Tips
To prevent and control the build-up of food particles and debris, take off your dentures and rinse them with warm or lukewarm water after finishing your meals.
Dentures are structurally fragile and can break easily. You are required to handle them with care and take all the time you need to clean your dentures. It is important that you always remove and clean your dentures over a sink or bowl of water or over a clean and folded towel.
Some of the chemicals used in the making of toothpaste are too harsh for dentures. Don’t apply toothpaste or teeth whitening products to your dentures. Toothpaste with harsh and possibly abrasive chemicals, or dental whitening products can also change the color of the dentures.
Never sleep in your dentures- it is riskier than you can ever imagine.
It is crucial to soak your dentures in warm or cool water overnight, before going to bed. Hot water can lead to the deformation of dentures because of their temperature.
If your dentures happen to break, please get an appointment with your dentist. The broken dentures are not for you to fix. This is possibly going to do more harm than good, for the dentures.
If you are using denture adhesive, follow the instruction provided by the manufacturer properly and use only as much as has been advised. Remember to remove the adhesive from the dentures every night gently with a soft-bristled brush, mild soap, and water.
When To Call Your Dentist?
Schedule regular appointments with your dentist, at least twice every year or once every six months. If you are wearing dentures, schedule frequent appointments with your dentist as recommended by them. Also, get in touch with your dentist if you happen to have any concerns or queries about your dentures.
Make An Appointment If Your Dentures:
- Feel uncomfortable
- Slip or no longer fit properly
- Make noise when you talk or eat
- Appear visibly worn or broken
You Should Also Contact Your Dentist If You Develop:
- Mouth sores
- Bleeding gums
- Bad breath
If you happen to notice the signs and symptoms of a developing mouth sore, this is a cue for you to realize that your dentures no longer fit you properly and you have to see your dentist.
Takeaway
Dentures enable you to fix and enhance your smile and build your self-confidence. However, they will only keep doing so as long as you take proper care of your artificial dentures. Consistent and thorough cleaning not only extends the usability of the dentures but also helps you maintain your oral health and hygiene. It is on you to ensure that you soak your dentures every night in the right kind of solutions, and get in touch with your dental health expert in case of any complications.