If you wear dentures, you need to clean them every day to rid them of food particles that might have gotten stuck, prevent the formation of dental plaque, and avoid stains. Cleaning your dentures also prevents bad breath.
Keep reading to learn how to maintain dentures properly so you can use them for a long time.
The Need to Maintain Your Dentures
You might believe that routine cleaning is not as vital for your dentures because they are not your real teeth. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
The fact is that dentures can house bacteria just like natural teeth do. Germs can accumulate and harm your general health as well as the appearance of your dentures. Improper denture maintenance can also lead to several issues, such as:
- Cosmetic Changes. Neglecting regular cleaning might cause your dentures to get stained and lose their aesthetic appeal. In addition, germs can accumulate if left unchecked, eventually changing the shape of the dentures and impairing how it fits and looks.
- Fungal infection. Candida albicans is a fungal infection that can result in thrush in the mouth. Thrush is a painful infection that mainly affects the roof of the mouth and is more prevalent in people who suffer from dry mouth. Cleaning dentures regularly and properly is important to avoid this type of infection.
- Mouth Sores. Food particles can accumulate on used dentures, causing irritation around your gum line and resulting in mouth sores and ulcers.
- Bad Breath. Bacteria accumulating on your dentures can cause or worsen bad breath.
Cleaning Your Dentures
Your overall oral health depends on keeping up routine cleanings. It’s best to have the following on hand to keep your dentures clean:
- A denture brush or soft bristle toothbrush
- Water
- Mild soap or a denture washing solution
- A soft towel
Although brushing is essential, it’ll take a little more than that to keep dentures clean. Here are the steps you can follow to clean them properly:
Step 1. Before removing your dentures, lay a soft towel on the restroom counter. The softness of the towel will serve as a cushion for your dentures so they don’t hit the hard surface.
Step 2. Take out your dentures and rinse them with warm water.
Step 3. Carefully use a denture brush or toothbrush with very soft bristles to remove bacteria, food debris, and plaque. (Brushing helps to loosen and get rid of denture adhesive, but a hard bristled toothbrush is not advisable since it could scratch the surface of the denture, thus creating tiny crevices that could accumulate bacteria over time.) Rinse them with warm water after brushing.
Step 4. Place your dentures in lukewarm water or a denture-soaking solution before you sleep.
Why Should I Soak My Dentures in Water?
Your partial or complete dentures must always be soaked in water or a denture solution if you’re not using them. If not, the acrylic may dry out over time, lose its shape, and become brittle, making the dentures less comfortable.
Dentures have countless microscopic holes and it’s crucial to keep them moist to increase their lifespan.
Dentures can restore a dazzling smile, along with your ability to chew and speak properly. However, you have to take care of your dentures so that they can last long and continue to look and function like your natural teeth.
Here at Dogwood Dental Spa in Waxhaw NC, we are well-equipped to customize the right dental plan for you, along with advising you on how to make the most out of your results.
