9 Tips on How to Clean Your Dentures

One of the most common inevitabilities of old age is the loss of teeth. As you age, the enamel on your teeth wears down and this leads to damage and decay. Even seniors with the best dental health may suffer from tooth loss. Fortunately, if your teeth start to affect your quality of life, dentures are a readily available option.

Like anything in life, dentures will take some getting used. They feel somewhat different from your natural teeth, but once you’ve become comfortable wearing them, they’re a lifesaver. If you’re considering getting dentures or have recently started wearing them, you’ll appreciate that keeping them clean is essential. But unlike your own teeth, their care is a little different!

Here are 9 useful tips on how to clean and care for your dentures.

1. Use Floss

Removing plaque between teeth is quite hard, therefore, flossing is encouraged to remove dirt from those hard-to-reach areas. But flossing is not only for natural teeth, dentures also need flossing to protect their overall cleanliness too. 

Dental flosses come in a number of varieties to match different types of teeth. When you floss your dentures, you’ll need to use a floss that’s on the softer side, and you’ll need to be gentle. You’ll find floss specifically for dentures in most drugstores or supermarkets.

2. Rinse Your Dentures After Eating

The food you eat and the drinks you enjoy can all leave residue on your dentures. It‘s important to always rinse your dentures after eating to prevent unnecessary dirt build up and bacteria. It's unrealistic to expect to rinse off your dentures after every cup or tea or coffee, but cleaning them after sugary drinks such as sodas is suggested.

Simply run your dentures under cold water to remove food particles. Make sure to handle your dentures with care while cleaning them and avoid dropping and damaging them.

3. Brush Your Dentures

Dentures, like natural teeth, can accumulate dirt build up over long-term periods. This may cause harm to your remaining natural teeth and your gums.

Soaking your dentures is not enough to keep them clean. Brushing them will ensure that you remove most debris that lies in between the teeth.

To thoroughly clean dentures, use a soft-bristled brush made for the purpose, and then rinse them with warm water.  This is an effective and quick process that you should do daily. Brushing your dentures at least once a day will improve their general look and limit bacterial formation. 

4. Wash Your Mouth

It’s important to wash your mouth out after removing dentures and again before putting them back in. Rinsing your mouth out removes bacteria and ensures that when you put your dentures back in, they’re in a clean environment.

Don’t abandon your remaining natural teeth or your overall oral health once you start using dentures. Washing your mouth is just as important as cleaning your dentures. Brush your natural teeth with a soft-bristled brush and toothpaste, not neglecting your tongue and gums. These areas trap a large amount of bacteria that can lead to infection. You can also use a mouthwash to gargle and disinfect those hard to reach places.

5. Soak Your Dentures 

Soaking your dentures requires a special solution. Any over the counter solution will help to maintain the dentures' freshness and increase their lifespan.

You can also make DIY or homemade denture soaks. But before making these versions, discuss the ingredients with your dentist and get approval first. Some recipes contain harmful chemicals that can destroy or degrade your dentures.

Most dentures require moisture to maintain their shape, hence why you should soak them in a solution overnight. Speak to your dentist to learn how to store your dentures and preserve their shape and longevity.

6. Leave Dentures in the Open

The most common and recommended way of storing your dentures is to place them in a water solution. However, there are certain cases that call for occasionally leaving dentures out in the open on a clean and dry surface. This is encouraged, because exposing dentures to oxygen now and then is a natural way to remove bacteria and yeast formation.

7. Implement Regular Maintenance

Scheduling regular check-ups with your dentist is a necessity. You should visit your dentist for denture care even when you’re not experiencing any problems. Once again, it’s a case of prevention being better than cure.

Your dentist will inform you how often you should visit to have your dentures examined and professionally cleaned. Dentures must get checked regularly because they tend to become loose. This can cause discomfort and irritation that can lead to more serious issues such as infections.

Sticking to a regular maintenance schedule will ensure that you can relax and enjoy all your favorite pastimes in comfort, and without worrying about your teeth.

8. Don’t Use Toothpaste

Brushing your dentures is still a necessary routine. But don’t make the mistake of treating dentures like your natural teeth.

Caring for your dentures is completely different from how you should care for your teeth. Dentures are plastic and much softer than enamel, so they require a gentler touch. Plastic cannot withstand tough abrasive particles that are found in toothpastes. Using whitening teeth products will also cause erosion and alter the color of your dentures overtime. 

9. Remove Dentures When You Sleep

It’s highly advisable to not sleep with your dentures in as this can pose a risk to your health. Regular usage of dentures may put a strain on your gums, and can lead to bleeding or infection. Taking your dentures out at night reduces the strain your gums are under.

Wearing dentures makes it harder to swallow while asleep and this creates a breeding ground for bacteria. Not only can this lead to infection, it’s also a cause of bad breath. An added concern is that when the buildup of saliva is eventually swallowed, it may make its way into the lungs, causing pneumonia.

Conclusion

Dentures are a great alternative for seniors who have limited teeth. They come with some wonderful advantages, such as being relatively easy to clean, improving the ability to properly chew food, and boosting self-confidence in social situations.

Regularly caring for your dentures is important to increase their longevity and to improve your general oral health.

Remember to always rinse dentures, soak them when necessary, brush them using a soft-bristled brush, schedule appointments with your dentist and refrain from using toothpaste that’s not designed for them.

Incorporating all these tips will help keep your dentures in good condition and make them more comfortable for a longer period of time.