August 22, 2019
What is the Best Way to Clean Dentures?
Washing and taking care of dentures can feel a little overwhelming at first but rest assured, dentures don’t need a lot of maintenance to stay looking and feeling great.
Getting dentures can be both an exciting and stressful time for patients. It’s exciting because patients are gaining a better bite and a brighter smile. It can be stressful because dentures require a few different appointments and, after the final try-on, the patient has to become familiar with a new dental routine.
Washing and taking care of dentures can feel a little overwhelming at first but rest assured, dentures don’t need a lot of maintenance to stay looking and feeling great. If you follow these simple steps, you’ll have your dentures for years to come.
Always rinse after eating
Rinsing your dentures after eating is the easiest and most self-explanatory way of keeping them clean. Food debris can get stuck in the cracks and crevices of the dentures, encouraging bacteria to grow. Giving them a quick rinse in the sink will keep that from happening. When you’re rinsing the dentures, make sure you handle them carefully. Dentures are fragile and can break if you drop them.
Brush them every day
Just like with natural teeth, you need to brush your dentures regularly. We recommend brushing them at least once a day (though twice is even better). Use a soft brush and denture cleaner (not toothpaste!) to gently remove any built-up plaque or food debris. Make sure that when you’re brushing, you get every little bit of denture adhesive off. Leaving the adhesive on can cause long-term problems for the dentures.
Because dentures spend so much time in your mouth, plaque can become a serious problem if you don’t brush them daily.
Keep your mouth clean
Even if you have a full mouth of dentures (aka, top and bottom), you still need to brush your gums daily. Using a toothbrush with very soft bristles, gently brush your tongue, gums, and palette.
Soak dentures overnight
For some dentures, an overnight soak is the most important step in keeping them clean. Dentures need moisture to retain their shape and condition. If you really want to keep your pearly whites clean, try using a special solution to soak your dentures. This can help kill any bacteria that brushing didn’t get. Just make sure to rinse the dentures well in the morning. Denture solution can irritate the stomach if ingested.
Visit the dentist
We recommend that denture-wearing patients come and visit our office every six months. During the appointment, our dental assistants will professionally clean the dentures and inspect them for any damage. If there is damage (which there commonly is with dentures because they’re so fragile), we’ll fix it up new for you!
