Tips for Keeping Your Dentures Clean

A new set of dentures starts out pearly white, but just like natural teeth, they can pick up stains, discoloration, and bacteria over time. As such, you must commit to keeping them clean to ensure the appearance of your dentures as well as your overall oral health. Learn how best to keep your dentures clean below.

Brush Your Dentures Daily

Brushing twice daily is one of the most important things you can do to keep your dentures clean. Use a non-abrasive denture cleanser and a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove food, plaque, and other deposits from your dentures. Be sure to clean the grooves to remove leftover adhesives.

Soak Dentures Overnight

When you’re done wearing your dentures for the day, soak them in water or a mild denture solution overnight. Most dentures will warp and lose their shape when allowed to dry out. Soaking them overnight and any time they are out of your mouth for prolonged periods of time also helps keep them clean and smelling fresh.

Check with your dentist about the right solutions for storing your dentures in overnight and be sure to rinse your dentures before putting them back in your mouth.

Rinse After Eating

Always remove and run water over your dentures after eating. This will help remove food debris and loose particles. It’s also important to clean your dentures after consuming quantities of staining foods and beverages, such as beets, coffee, tea, red wine, berry pies, and acidic foods. Doing this consistently can help keep stains from forming on your dentures.

Keep Your Mouth Clean

Whether you have partial or complete dentures, it’s no use taking great care of them if you ignore your oral health. Bacteria in your mouth can be transferred to your dentures, so it’s important to maintain a good oral care routine.

Clean any remaining natural teeth using a soft-bristled toothbrush. Then use a soft, clean cloth to remove any leftover denture adhesive from your gums.

Visit the Dentist

You should visit your dentist at least twice a year to have your prosthetic teeth evaluated and professionally cleaned. This will also give your dentist an opportunity to ensure a proper fit to prevent slippage, irritation, infection, and sores. They will also assess your gums, remaining teeth, and jaws to make sure they are healthy.

Handle Your Dentures Carefully

Most dentures are made with acrylic, which means they’re more fragile compared to natural teeth. Your dentures can chip, crack, or break if dropped or knocked against a hard surface. Anytime you are brushing or rinsing your dentures, you want to place a towel over the sink or counter or collect some water in the sink to protect the dentures in case they drop. Also, do not bend or roughly handle your dentures when cleaning to prevent damage.

Don’t Be Too Harsh

You should avoid abrasive cleaning materials that could damage your dentures, including strong cleansers, bleach-containing products, whitening toothpastes, hot water, and stiff-bristled brushes.

Follow Proper Care Guidelines

If you are missing all or many of your teeth, dentures can greatly improve your quality of life, restoring your ability to chew and speak comfortably. Proper care extends the life of your dentures and helps maintain your oral health. Be sure to use the right materials and products and call your dentist if you have any concerns.