Did you know that in 2019, over 41 million Americans wore dentures? Dentures are a common solution for tooth loss from untreated cavities and infections.
If you have dentures, one of the most important things you can do is to learn how to clean dentures properly. Doing this not only improves your oral health but also keeps your dentures in great shape long term.
Keep reading this guide to learn how to clean your dentures so you’ll maintain your beautiful smile!
Denture Care and Oral Health
It’s important to realize that even though your dentures are false teeth, cleaning them regularly is essential.
Food particles can stick to your dentures and lead to a buildup of bacteria and plaque. When this occurs, your gums will also become tender and swollen. This can cause dental health problems, such as:
- Gum disease
- Mouth sores
- Bad breath
- Infections
Gum disease also increases your risk for other health conditions, such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and heart disease.
How to Clean Dentures
You’ll first need to make sure you have the right supplies in place before you begin cleaning your dentures. You’ll need:
- Denture cleansing solution or a mild soap
- Warm water
- Soft-bristled toothbrush designed for dentures
- Soft towel
You’ll need to place the towel on your counter before removing your dentures. This way, if you drop your dentures while taking them out, you have a cushion to protect them.
Next, remove your dentures and rinse them thoroughly using warm water. Use your toothbrush to brush your dentures to loosen up food particles, plaque, and bacteria. Be sure to clean all areas of the denture’s surface.
You can also use mild soap or a denture cleanser as you brush to remove any remaining food and denture adhesive. Don’t use toothpaste on your dentures as it tends to be abrasive and causes scratches and cracks.
Brush Your Mouth and Gums
Remember, keeping your mouth healthy is a crucial part of denture care. After your dentures are clean, you can use toothpaste to clean your mouth. Brush your gums, tongue, and any remaining teeth to remove food and bacteria.
It’s also a good idea to use an antibacterial mouthwash to prevent issues with bad breath.
Remove All Denture Adhesive
You’ll also need to ensure you remove the denture adhesive from your mouth. An easy way to loosen the adhesive is to gargle with warm salt water for 30 seconds and repeat 2 to 3 times.
Then you can use a toothbrush to scrub the roof of your mouth gently.
Overnight Care
You’ll need to take your dentures out and soak them in warm water at night. You can also use a denture-soaking solution. This keeps your dentures moist, so they don’t dry out and become brittle.
How Often Should You Clean Your Dentures?
In most cases, your dentist will recommend that you clean your dentures at least once each day.
However, the American Dental Association recommends you brush your teeth at least twice daily. So, it’s better to clean your dentures twice a day when you’re brushing your teeth to keep your gums healthy.
You can brush your dentures in the morning after breakfast and then clean them again at night. Doing this keeps ensures you won’t have excess food and bacteria buildup.
How to Maintain Your Dentures
To ensure your dentures last a long time, you’ll need to know how to keep them in good condition. Therefore, you’ll need to take steps that include:
Handle Your Dentures Carefully
Dentures are fragile and can break fairly easily. Always take your time with denture cleaning, and be sure to have all your supplies ready before taking out your dentures.
Don’t Try to Fix Your Dentures
If you drop your dentures and break them, don’t try to fix them yourself. Broken dentures won’t fit your mouth correctly and can cause problems like mouth sores. If your dentures break, you’ll need to replace them immediately.
It’s also a good idea to have a backup pair of dentures in place.
Avoid Abrasive Cleaning Products
In addition to avoiding toothpaste, you’ll also need to avoid using any products with bleach, like over-the-counter teeth whitening products.
It’s also important to avoid using stiff-bristled toothbrushes or any toothbrush that’s not designed for dentures. Abrasive products can scratch your dentures and cause them to lose color over time.
Avoid Using Hot Water
You’ll also want to avoid soaking your dentures in hot water. Hot temperatures cause your dentures to warp and eventually lose shape.
When Should You See a Dentist?
Even if you have full dentures, you still need to see a dentist at least twice a year for dental health checkups. Your dentist will check your gums for gum disease and other oral health issues.
It’s also important to realize that the tissues in your mouth area change shape as you age. These changes affect how your dentures fit, so your dentist will check how your dentures fit at each visit.
Sometimes your dentist will even recommend you make an appointment every three months for denture fit adjustments.
If your dentures don’t fit correctly, it can lead to problems like gum disease, poor nutrition, mouth sores, and jaw pain. Be sure to make an appointment to see your dentist if you experience problems, such as:
- Discomfort when wearing your dentures
- You have swollen or bleeding gums
- You have mouth sores
- Your dentures slip when you eat or talk
- Your dentures are worn down
Keeping Your Dentures Clean
Now that you know how to clean dentures properly, you’ll be able to form a healthy routine that will improve your dental health.
When you’re missing teeth, the last thing you want is to be left with no options if your dentures break. If you need new dentures or want to get a backup pair, you can skip a dental visit and turn to Denture Rescue.
We offer services such as denture repair, full and partial dentures, backup dentures, and duplicate dentures. You can easily take an impression with our at-home impression kit and mail it back to us to have your dentures created.
Make sure you contact us today to start the process!
Purchase full dentures online.
