Just like natural teeth need regular brushing, dentures also need regular care to keep them in good shape. Most people realize that they need to soak their dentures overnight, but proper denture care requires more than a dunk in a denture solution. That’s why we’ve decided to pen this guide. A guide that will help everyone take better care of their dentures.
After we go over proper denture care, we will then go over some of the basics of using denture adhesives properly. Although using denture adhesives might seem like a straight-forward process, it requires the person to be thoughtful about applying it if they’re going to get good results. Now that we’ve stated the purpose of this article, let’s get things started with the proper care of dentures.
How To Take Proper Care Of Your Dentures
As promised, this section is dedicated to helping all of our readers take better care of their dentures. This section will begin with the basics that most people should know and then work outwards from that point on.
Remove And Rinse Dentures After Meals
Whenever the person eats—whether it’s a meal or just a snack—they need to make sure that they remove their dentures and rinse them off promptly. Food particles can cause irritation if it gets between the dentures and the wearer’s gums and can allow bacteria to quickly build up. To prevent the dentures from breaking if they’re accidentally dropped while they’re being rinsed, it’s advisable that the person puts a towel in the sink. That way, if the dentures are dropped, they’ll fall into the towel and won’t chip or break on the hard surface of the sink.
Don’t Forget Cleaning Your Mouth
Since you have your dentures out for rinsing, this is a good time for you to clean your mouth as well. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, remove any food debris from the inside of your mouth—including your tongue, cheeks, gums, and roof of your mouth. Remove any remaining denture adhesive from your gums as well.
Brush Your Dentures Daily
Although we recommend brushing your dentures at least once a day, if you’re busy, then make sure that you brush your dentures at least once a month. Make sure that you use a soft-bristled brush and a non-abrasive denture cleanser to thoroughly but safety remove plaque and food debris. Make sure to thoroughly clean the grooves of the dentures to remove the leftover denture adhesive that may linger on your dentures.
Soak Your Dentures Every Night
It’s important for the person to soak their dentures every night. This is to keep the dentures moist so that they properly retain their shape. While you’re soaking them in water, you can use a denture-soaking solution that will help to kill bacteria and food debris that might be lingering on the dentures. Make sure to read and follow the directions that came with the denture-soaking solution to get the best results.
Rinse Dentures Before Putting Them Back In
Although denture-soaking solutions are extremely effective at removing food debris and bacteria from the dentures, they often contain chemicals that can be harmful if they’re not rinsed off. Some of these chemicals can cause mouth burns, pain, or even vomiting, so make sure to rinse the dentures thoroughly before placing them back into your mouth.
Check-In With Your Dentist Regularly
You should schedule regular visits to your dentist every six months to ensure that your dentures are still fitting properly and to have them professionally cleaned. That will ensure that the dentures don’t begin to slip and cause discomfort. If you’re dentures become loose in between visits, then be sure to immediately schedule a dentist appointment to have the problem corrected immediately.
The Dos & Dont’s Of Dental Care
Now that we’ve given out our detailed recommendations for proper dental care, we’re going to end our discussion on dental care with the dos and dont’s of dental care below.
Do’s Of Dental Care
- Do regularly rinse dentures
- Do regularly brush dentures
- Do use a soft bristle Brush for denture brushing
- Do soak your dentures overnight
Dont’s Of Dental Care
- Don’t use abrasive toothpaste, brushes, or cleaners on your dentures.
- Don’t use whitening toothpaste on dentures
- Don’t use products that contain bleach on your dentures.
- Don’t place your dentures in hot water.
A Quick Guide To Properly Using Denture Adhesives
Now that we’ve covered the proper care of dentures, we thought that we’d be remiss in our duties to educate the public if we didn’t at least provide a small section on denture adhesives. After all, the majority of people wearing dentures use some type of denture adhesive, so it’s an important subject to cover. And we’re going to cover it right now.
Step One: Make Sure Your Dentures Are Clean And Dry
The first step is making sure that your dentures are clean and dry before applying an adhesive to them. If they’ve been soaking overnight in a denture solution, then be sure to rinse them thoroughly and then make sure they’re completely dry before moving on to step two.
Step Two: Apply Denture Adhesive Cream
Using a small amount of denture cream, apply it to several different parts of the denture. Apply the product according to the manufacturer’s instructions—being careful not to use too little or too much.
Step Three: Place Into Mouth
Once the denture adhesive has been applied to the dentures, place the denture into your mouth—pressing firmly into place. If necessary, close your mouth for several seconds to give the dentures a chance to hold onto your gums and provide a secure fit.
Step Four: Remove Dentures At Night
After using the dentures for the day, be sure to remove them at night. Per our instructions above, be sure to remove all the remaining adhesive from the dentures and soak them in a denture detergent overnight. If you do this and make regular dentist appointments a priority, your dentures should continue to work well for you for many years to come.
