How To Clean Dentures

If you’ve suffered tooth loss, dentures are an excellent way to restore the look and strength of your smile. Regardless of having full or partial dentures, they’re generally low-maintenance, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t clean your dentures. In fact, you should clean your dentures daily in order to remove loose food particles, remove stains, and more.

There are a few ways that you can efficiently clean your dentures which we’ll outline below. We’ll also offer additional tips on how to ensure your dentures remain in good shape for many years to come.

The Do's of Cleaning Your Dentures

Cleaning dentures is very easy. It’s not time-consuming and it’s absolutely necessary in order to maintain good oral health. Whether you opt for purchasing a denture soaking solution at your local drugstore or would prefer using a homemade denture cleaner, here are some ways you can keep them clean and healthy:

Soak Dentures Overnight In A Denture Cleaning Solution

You can either fill your sink up with water or a bowl before you go to bed. Avoid hot and boiling water as this can damage the denture material. Place a cleaning tab in the water and let it dissolve, then add your dentures and let them soak overnight. You can also follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to use the denture cleanser.

Before putting them back in your mouth in the morning, make sure to rinse them first to get rid of any leftover cleaning residue.

Brush Your Dentures With A Soft Bristle Toothbrush

You can also purchase a special denture brush and cleanser specifically meant for brushing your dentures, but a soft toothbrush will do the trick too. Don’t use regular toothpaste, a hard toothbrush, or an electric toothbrush as these can damage the denture material.

With your soft toothbrush or denture brush, brush gently back and forth to remove plaque and food debris. This should be done once or twice daily.

Schedule Regular Dental Checkups

If you’re scheduling regular dental checkups and receiving expert advice on how to best clean your dentures or which cleaning products to purchase, you’re doing the best thing for your dentures and your oral health.

If you have partial or complete dentures, you should still be visiting your dentist twice a year (every six months). They’ll ensure you’re taking proper care of your dentures and that they continue to fit your mouth properly.

The Don'ts of Cleaning Your Dentures

In order to avoid damage, avoid the following:

How To Take Care of Dental Implant Supported Dentures

Caring for dentures that are supported by dental implants will need to be cleaned a bit differently since they’ll only be removed by your dentist only if you do not have the removable kind.

They can be cleaned gently with a soft toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste. Avoid electric toothbrushes or abrasive kinds of toothpaste (like teeth whitening toothpaste) as these can scratch and damage the material.

You’ll also want to rinse around the dentures/dental implants with a water flosser. Using a tool like this can help prevent plaque buildup and inflamed gums.

Signs You Need To Clean Your Dentures

Not only is not cleaning your dentures regularly bad for the appliances, but you could also be putting your oral health in jeopardy.

Denture wearers should be brushing and cleaning their dentures daily, otherwise, they may notice the following:

Regular denture cleaning is crucial in ensuring you do not suffer from gum disease. Luckily, if caught early enough, gum disease can be reversed, otherwise, the bacteria can cause denture discolouration, deterioration, and bone and gum loss.

Have Questions About Denture Treatment?

Located in Stoney Creek, our dentists help patients improve their oral health with false teeth whether that’s in the form of dentures, dental implants, dental bridges, and more. Dentures have many benefits for patients who have suffered tooth loss but whose gums are now healed and healthy. We’ll ensure all of your questions are answered regarding denture cleansers and how to look after your dental appliances.

Tooth loss can leave you feeling self-conscious and cause problems with biting, chewing, digesting, and with speech but that’s why we offer partial and full dentures to help patients regain control of their smiles again. They look and feel just like natural teeth, are easy to care for, and can boost your confidence again. Call our Stoney Creek dental office to learn more about how dentures can change your life around.