Caring For Dentures

Taking proper care of your dentures is important for keeping them in proper shape and also to keep your mouth healthy. Maintaining and keeping your dentures hygienic does not require any special attention. Once you receive your dentures, your dentist will tell you that they need regular cleaning and care. Here is a step-by-step procedure to keep your dentures clean and healthy.

Cleaning at night:

Dentures should be cleaned regularly at night without fail. Cleaning should be done carefully and with proper attention. Dentures seldom get spoiled in a day but damage slowly over time when proper care is not given regularly.

• Before you start the cleaning routine, make sure that you have taken appropriate steps to prevent damage to your dentures. Dentures are made of ceramic which is brittle. They can break easily if dropped. Before you clean, place a folded soft towel underneath or fill your sink with water. This will prevent any damage if you drop them accidentally.

• The first cleaning step is to rinse your denture thoroughly with water and run your fingers along the inside edges to remove any large pieces of debris or other substances. Rinse them under a full tap to wash away debris.

• Next is brushing. For dentures always use a soft bristled brush. Hard bristles can wear down dentures quickly. Do not use toothbrushes. Although they may seem to clean well, toothbrushes can damage dentures over time. Buy a proper denture brush and use it properly. Gently brush all surfaces taking care that the plastic and bend attachments don’t get damaged.

In addition to removing food debris and bacteria, brushing also prevents stains from developing on denture surfaces. People who skip brushing may find permanent stains develop on their dentures.

• Once you are done brushing, rinse the denture thoroughly with water. Fill a glass half with denture solution. It is common practice to use water instead of denture solution. Although apparently this does not cause any damage, water contains microorganisms which may deteriorate parts of the denture. It is recommended that you use a good denture solution instead.

Tips for care:

• Never wrap your denture in paper towel as it may accidentally get thrown away. Always have proper accessories for cleaning and storing your dentures.

• Do not use household cleaners, dish washing liquid or any other solution apart from special denture cleaning solutions. Domestic cleaners contain chemicals that can damage or deform your dentures. Never use bleach because it can cause discoloration of the pink plastic. Liquid hand soap is safe to use. However, it gives the dentures a slippery feel which some people find annoying.

• Keep dentures away from reach of children and pets. In fact, do not allow adults to touch them either. Having other people handle your dentures is unhygienic and may cause disease.

• Do not use hot water for cleaning dentures as this can damage the plastic parts.

• Always use solutions and equipment that has been approved by the American Dental Association (ADA). This ensures that the products you are using are safe and effective for your purpose.