How to Care for Your Dentures: a Step by Step Guide

Partial and complete dentures help replace missing teeth to improve your appearance and the aesthetics of your smile. The artificial teeth are fabricated to appear natural and developed from different materials like acrylic and metal.

When you receive your dentures, you may think of them as fake teeth without feeling they need cleaning and maintenance, similar to your natural teeth. However, cleaning your dentures involves more than merely brushing them. You must adopt other steps to keep your artificial teeth in optimal shape to maintain your oral health.

If you have recently received dentures, we suggest you keep reading to learn how to clean and maintain your dentures as best as possible.

Cleaning and Sanitizing Your Dentures

Your natural teeth may have endured food particles and dental plaque sticking to them before you lost them. Dental plaque doesn’t differentiate between your natural or artificial teeth because it is a sticky film forming on teeth and dentures after you finish eating and drinking.

Not cleaning your dentures or sanitizing them makes you vulnerable to gum disease and halitosis risk. Therefore, cleaning your dentures regularly is crucial for your overall oral health. To achieve your goal of cleaning the prosthetics, you can use a soft-bristled toothbrush, water, denture cleaning solution or mild soap, and a soft towel. Sounds easy, doesn’t it?

You must plan to brush your dentures at least once in 24 hours. You find brushing them twice a day beneficial like you did with your natural teeth. However, it helps if you avoid using toothpaste when cleaning them.

Several toothpaste brands contain abrasive ingredients harmful to removable dentures making the toothpaste brands gradually damage the prosthetics by leaving scratches or small cracks. Instead, use the soft-bristled toothbrush explicitly created for cleaning dentures because the tools help prevent scratches on their surface. Although brushing the dentures is essential, it isn’t sufficient to clean them. To maintain the longevity of the replacement teeth, you must thoroughly clean them every night after removal.

How Often Is Cleaning Dentures Essential?

When you receive partials, and full dentures in East York, Toronto, ON, the dentist would have stipulated that you clean your dentures at least once daily. If you can do so twice daily, it’s even better.

Develop the habit of brushing your dentures after waking up in the morning and before bed at night. Soaking the dentures in mild soap or cleansing solution every night is also required.

Dentures don’t need toothpaste for cleaning, but you can use toothpaste to brush your gums and tongue daily to keep them healthy and prevent bad breath. If you have replaced a couple of teeth with partial dentures near you, ensure that you brush and floss your remaining teeth daily. In addition, rinsing your mouth with mouthwash contributes to your oral health. You can remove the prosthetics when using mouthwash or use a brand created explicitly for denture wearers.

Storing and Maintaining Your Dentures for Longevity

If you store and maintain your dental prosthetics appropriately, you can expect them to last an average of seven to ten years. Below are some tips to extend the longevity of your dental prosthetics.

• To prevent the buildup of food particles and debris, remove and rinse your artificial teeth with warm water after meals or beverages.
• Dentures are not as durable as your natural teeth and are vulnerable to breakage. Therefore you must handle them carefully, especially when cleaning them. Removing and cleaning the dentures over a sink with water or a folded towel proves beneficial.
• Dentures are vulnerable to harsh chemicals making it essential not to apply toothpaste or whitening products to the prosthetics. Abrasive toothpaste can cause scratches, and whitening toothpaste can discolour your dentures.
• Never consider sleeping with the dentures in your mouth. Instead, soak them in warm or cool water overnight without thinking of hot water because your dentures can change shape.
• If you damage your dentures, do not try to fix them using store-bought DIY remedies because they cause further damage to the removable teeth. Instead, contact your dentist in East York, Toronto, ON immediately for repairs which they manage because of the training they receive.
• If using denture adhesives, ensure that you use the right amount. You must also remove the adhesives every night with a soft-bristled toothbrush, mild soap, and water.

Dentures can improve the aesthetics of your smile and boost your self-confidence. However, you must care for them appropriately by consistently cleaning them to extend their longevity. Follow the instructions in this article and contact your dentist if you develop any complications.

If you need replacements for missing teeth, consider dentures as the optimal option for your needs, Danforth Village Dental Care provides partials and full dentures in East York, Toronto, ON as required. Consult them to determine which prosthetic best suits your needs and receive them with instructions on their care to extend their longevity.