Dentures are a great way to replace missing teeth, but they’re not always easy to keep clean. If you don’t follow proper cleaning procedures, your dentures can become discolored or develop foul odors—definitely not what you want in your mouth! This guide will show you how to care for dentures and keep them clean and comfortable.
When to Clean Your Dentures
When taking care of dentures, you need to be proactive. This means cleaning your dentures every day and after each meal. It also means giving them a good scrubbing before bed each night, as water helps flush away any remaining food particles that might collect over the day.
What to Use
The best way to clean your dentures is using a toothbrush, toothpaste, and mouthwash. Dentures should be brushed with an ADA-approved soft-bristled brush at least twice daily. The brush’s bristles should reach all denture surfaces so that food and plaque can be removed from the crevices around the margins and ridges of each tooth. A small amount of fluoride-containing toothpaste may also be used if recommended by your dentist or orthodontist. Knowing how to take care of dentures properly can prevent issues down the road.
How to Brush Your Dentures
Brush your dentures daily with a soft-bristle brush. Always gently brush each denture’s inside, then work outward to remove food particles and plaque. When you brush, rinse with warm water and pat dry with a towel or cloth. After brushing, always store your dentures in their case until they are needed again.
Brush in a circular motion, starting on the upper right side of each denture (if you are right-handed) and brushing clockwise around the plate until you reach the lower left side. Then repeat this process for every tooth on both top and bottom plates; this should take about five minutes for each set of teeth!
How to Soak Dentures for Proper Care
To properly clean your dentures, you must soak them in warm water and white vinegar. The longer you soak them, the better!
If you don’t have time for an overnight soak, it’s okay. You can still clean your dentures by letting them sit in the solution for about 20 minutes. If this is all the time you have, just make sure to thoroughly rinse off any leftover vinegar after each use so it doesn’t stain or damage your dentures later on.
Tips on How to Take Care of Dentures and Keep Them in Good Shape
Your dentures can be cleaned in the following ways:
- Use a Denture Cleaner: Denture cleaners are available at most drugstores and come in many forms. You can choose between liquid, powder, or tablet form depending on your preferences and budget. Some cleaners are meant for daily use, while others can be used every couple of days or once weekly. If you purchase a cleaner that comes in liquid form, ensure it’s properly mixed before using it on your dentures—using too much or too little solution can cause damage!
- Brush Daily with an Electric Toothbrush: If possible, use an electric toothbrush to clean your dentures. If you don’t have one, a manual brush is fine, but ensure you brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste. The more often you clean your dentures, the better you maintain them.
- Rinse After Eating: Rinsing after eating helps remove food particles from your mouth, preventing them from sticking to your dentures.
Can You Clean Dentures While Wearing Them? How to Take Care of Dentures Safely
The short answer is yes, but it’s not ideal. Dentures are meant to be removed from your mouth when you brush and floss, as the bristles and picks won’t reach the spaces between them. Leaving them in during cleaning means you risk trapping food particles and plaque between your dentures and gums, eventually leading to gum disease if not addressed.
If you brush your dentures while they remain in your mouth, use a soft-bristled brush and avoid toothpaste with abrasives; this will not harm the artificial teeth. This routine could freshen your mouth between meals, but it’s not the best method for taking care of long-term dentures.
Although cleaning your dentures while in your mouth is technically possible, it’s not the best way to keep them in good shape. Instead, follow the advice above to keep your dentures as clean and functional as possible.
Conclusion
We hope this guide has helped you understand how to care for dentures and keep them clean for years. Remember: invest in a quality set of dentures and clean them regularly, and you’ll have the confidence and freedom to smile naturally. If you are looking for a convenient way to replace your dentures, click here to buy dentures online with DentKits.