Keeping your mouth healthy is important at every stage of your life. It can get a little harder if you have dentures but with the right routine you’ll have a fresh mouth and confident smile. When you first get your dentures, your dentist will go over the care regimen with you. Be sure to ask any questions you may have. You can refer to this guide for tips on keeping your new dentures clean and fresh.
Every night clean your dentures. This is not a step that should ever be skipped. Also, don’t rush through the steps; proper and careful maintenance means a long life for your dentures.
Dentures are delicate. They are made of ceramic, which is fairly easy to crack, chip, or even break if dropped. Before you start your cleaning routine, pad the area just in case they slip. Use hand towels or washcloths to line the sink area – if you don’t want to put towels in the sink itself fill it with water. This will prevent any damage if you drop them accidentally.
1. First, thoroughly rinse your dentures. Use your fingers to dislodge any large debris and rinse them under a full tap to wash away the easily removed debris.
2. Brushing is next. You want to brush your dentures with a soft bristled brush at least once a day. Be sure to use a soft brush. Hard bristles can significantly wear down your dentures. Make sure you buy a denture brush and not a regular toothbrush. It might seem similar enough but a toothbrush will wear them down much faster. Gently brush all surfaces, taking care that the plastic and bent attachments don’t get damaged.
Brushing doesn’t just remove food debris, but it also prevents stains from forming. Once you have stains on your dentures they can be hard to remove. Be sure to brush every day to avoid this common problem.
3. A final rinse with water after you are done brushing should leave your dentures gleaming. Fill a glass halfway with solution and place them in this solution overnight. There are a lot of people who use water instead of solution; the issue with this is that water contains microorganisms that, could erode parts of your dentures. Most dentists will recommend using solution instead.