Measures You Should Take To Care For Your Dentures

When dentures are first installed, you may feel as though they are hard to adjust to and that caring for them is overwhelming. However, over time, you will find that that is not the case. Still, it's important to keep your dentures in good shape so they look their best, feel comfortable, and keep the rest of your mouth healthy. Here are a few measures you should take to care for dentures:

Clean after eating

When you finish eating, remove your dentures and run them under lukewarm water to remove food particles. Rinse your mouth before replacing the dentures.

Carefully handle your dentures

Be careful while you're cleaning and handling your dentures. You don't want to break or bend any of the plastic pieces or metal clasps. As a protective measure, stand over a counter covered with a towel while you're cleaning your dentures in case you drop them.  

Keep your mouth clean

It's important to not only keep your dentures clean but also your mouth. Before putting your dentures in at the start of the day, gently brush your gums, natural teeth, cheeks, tongue and the roof of your mouth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste. Massage your gums regularly and swish with warm salt water every day to help promote a clean mouth and healthy gums.

Clean your dentures daily

In addition to rinsing your dentures after meals, before bedtime, soak them in a nonabrasive solution and brush them with a soft-bristled toothbrush designed especially for cleaning dentures. This will remove food particles, plaque and stains. 

Soak your dentures overnight

Every night, place your dentures in a soaking solution or water mixed with mild detergent. Soaking dentures will help them retain their shape. Be sure to never put your dentures in boiling water because that will warp them.

Use a non-bleach detergent and avoid chlorine water. The bleach will whiten the pink parts of the dentures and the chlorine can erode the metal clasps.

Rinse dentures before replacing them

After soaking dentures, always thoroughly rinse them before replacing them in your mouth. The chemicals in the soaking solution can cause burns or vomiting if swallowed. 

See your dentist regularly

If your dentures become loose or start slipping often, talk to your dentist about getting them refitted. Loose fitting dentures may cause irritation, sores and eventually infection. In addition, schedule regular dentist checkups so your dentist can make sure your mouth and any natural teeth stay healthy.

Make an appointment with a dentist in your area to learn more about properly caring for your mouth and your dentures. Click here to read more.