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Denture Care

If you have dentures, you must take as much care of these as you would of natural teeth. See your dentist regularly to ensure that your gums stay healthy, and so that your dentist can check your dentures for good fit, function and comfort.

Clean your dentures daily to get rid of food scraps and prevent the occurrence of plaque, stains and tartar. These things can cause bad breath, gum irritation and mouth infections. They can also affect the appearance of your dentures.

How to clean your dentures
The most effective way to keep your dentures clean is by daily brushing in combination with soaking them in a chemical solution.

When brushing, ensure that you reach all areas of the denture. Dentures can be soaked daily or several times a week in a solution, such as Polident, or detergent with a chemical action that removes or loosens light stains and deposits. After you soak your dentures, make sure to rinse with water.

Ultrasonic cleaning may be performed during your dental visit in order to remove heavy stains and tartar.

When brushing, do not hold the brush firmly or with pressure because you could crack the denture. Clean the denture over a sink half filled with water and place a towel in the sink to act as a cushion in case the denture should drop. Avoid soaking or rinsing the denture in hot water, because this can distort its shape and fit. Avoid scraping your denture with sharp instruments to remove hard deposits. Your dentist should be able to remove those using ultrasonic cleaning.

Make sure to leave your denture out overnight in water or denture solutions or out of the mouth for a period of six to eight hours daily. This gives your gums a chance to breath, and helps you to avoid infections of the soft tissues under your denture.

Also, don't overlook the health of your gums. Clean your gums daily with a soft toothbrush or washcloth to remove plaque and debris. This also acts to massage and stimulate circulation in the tissues. You can massage your gums by placing your thumb and index finger over the ridge and use a "press-and-release" stroke.