12 Steps to Care for your Dentures

Posted on: July 15, 2015 by Michael Battell

How should you care for your Dentures?  

Follow these 12 steps to make sure that you are taking the best care of your smile!

1.  Rinse and brush your denture(s) after meals.

2.  Brush the denture using a denture brush, warm water and a denture cleaning paste or mild detergent. Pay extra attention to spaces between the 'teeth' and the areas that come in contact with the gums.

3.  When brushing your lower denture be sure to hold it in the middle. Accidentally squeezing both sides together can cause breakage.

4.  Do not use toothpaste on your new denture. Toothpaste is an abrasive and will scratch and dull the shine of your denture.

5.  When cleaning your denture, place a towel in the sink, or fill the sink with water, so it will be cushioned if dropped.

6.  Gently brush your gums, use a tongue scraper to remove debris and clean the roof of your mouth with a moistened super soft toothbrush as this will help stimulate blood circulation, tone gum tissue and promote healing.

7.  Rinsing your mouth with mouthwash periodically will helps minimize bacteria and help to keep your breath fresher.

8.  A denture should be removed each day and placed in a covered container with a denture soaking cleanser that kills bacteria. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the denture cleanser to determine how long your denture should be        soaked. Soaking a denture overnight is optional with some denture cleansers. This keeps a denture clean, and also gives the supporting tissues in your mouth a chance to rest.

9.  Thoroughly rinse your denture in warm running water before inserting it into your mouth after it has been soaking in a cleanser.

10. When a denture is not being worn, it should be placed in a covered container filled with water to prevent drying out and possible dimension changes of the denture base material.

11. Daily cleaning of your dentures is necessary to prevent plaque and calculi (tartar) buildup, food stains, bad breath odours, mouth infections and redness or irritation to your gums.

12. Thick, ropey saliva (due to medications, dry mouth) and certain foods (red wine, berries, coffee, tea, tomato sauces, curries) can contribute to denture stains. Rinsing your mouth and dentures following meals will help reduce staining and debris build-up on your dentures. Stay with a routine of soaking your dentures in an approved cleanser, followed by brushing to help keep denture stains and debris to a minimum.
 

Your dentures can be professionally cleaned and polished at Battell Denture Clinic while you wait if stubborn stains persist. Call (905) 389-2217 to book an appointment.