In our last blog post, we discussed what dentures are, and the different types of dentures you can get. Since dentures are acting as your replacement teeth, taking care of them and cleaning them properly is crucial in making sure they last long and don’t affect the health of your mouth.

Because dentures are custom fit for your mouth, it is important to treat them as fragile as they are expensive and time-consuming to replace. Maintaining your dentures will ensure your smile looks natural.

Denture maintenance tips:

  • Keep dentures moist – Even when you’re not wearing your dentures, keep them moist. If they dry out they can become misshapen. They can be placed in water or a denture soaking solution. If using a solution, be sure to rinse them with water afterwards as the taste can be unpleasant or cause a burning sensation.
  • Keep going to the dentist – Just because you have few or no natural teeth, this does not mean trips to the dentist are over with. Your gum tissue and bone can change as you age. Your dentist can also perform oral cancer screenings.
  • Don’t use whitening products – Though your dentures may become slightly discolored from the foods you eat and what you drink just like natural teeth, don’t use any whitening toothpastes or mouthwashes or bleach cleaners on them. They can discolor the pink palate part of the dentures that is supposed to blend in with your gums.

Denture cleaning tips:

  • Don’t brush them with toothpaste – Toothpaste is gritty and abrasive and creates very small scratches where food builds up. While this is okay on the tough enamel of our natural teeth, this can damage dentures.
  • Do still brush and clean daily – Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to scrub off any food sticking to them. Be careful not to damage any wires or attachments.
  • Rinse dentures after every meal – Food sticks to dentures just like it does to natural teeth, and rinsing off your dentures stops bacteria from building up and causing gum disease or an infection in your mouth. It also ensures your dentures will fit properly each time you remove them and put them back in.
  • Soak dentures in cleaning solution – There are special denture cleaning solutions that you soak your dentures in to make sure you are killing any potentially harmful bacteria. Dentures can also be soaked in regular dishwashing soap or hand soap.
  • Don’t let dental adhesive linger – Not all denture wearers need to use a denture adhesive, but if you do, make sure to still clean your dentures as the adhesive can wear down dentures prematurely and cause you to need new ones sooner than usual. Adhesive especially tends to linger in the grooves of dentures.

If you don’t yet use dentures, but think you may need them due to missing teeth, call us today: (850) 542-4428. Dr. Djuric and our team have helped thousands of patients with dental implants and dentures.