Your dentures and your mouth can benefit from appropriate maintenance. Dentures, both partial or complete, need to be cleaned and disinfected on a regular basis to avoid stains and bacteria. In this blog, we will discuss helpful hints that will show you how to clean, manage, and store your dentures properly.
After each meal, remove and rinse your dentures. If you can’t clean your dentures after every meal, make sure to use a denture cleanser, mild dish soap, or liquid hand soap to rinse and brush them at least once a day. It is a useful hack to remove food, plaque, and other particles.
Clean any residual adhesive from your gums if you use a denture adhesive. This should not be done with a denture cleanser. Brush your natural teeth and clean your cheeks, tongue, and roof of your mouth with a toothbrush. Dentures should be soaked in the solution overnight. Your dentist and the solution you use may have their recommendations, so follow them.
The following items should never be used to clean dentures:
Check with your dentist or prosthodontist to see if bleaching your dentures is safe. According to the American College of Prosthodontists, dentures should not be soaked for more than 10 minutes in sodium hypochlorite bleach or products containing sodium hypochlorite. Dentures that are immersed in sodium hypochlorite solutions for more than 10 minutes may be damaged.
Rinse your dentures well before putting them back in, primarily if you used a cleansing solution. The solution’s toxic ingredients might cause sickness, discomfort, or burns if consumed. Dentures are highly fragile, and if dropped, they can easily break. Always place your dentures on a soft cloth or in a sink filled with water while handling them.
If you let your dentures dry or put them in hot water, they may get deformed. Dentures should always be stored in room temperature water or in a denture solution prescribed by your dentist when not in use.
Never use a paper towel to wrap your dentures. They might easily be mistaken for garbage and discarded. Keep your dentures out of reach of children and pets while storing them. Dentures are fun for kids to play with, and dogs enjoy chewing on them.
Last but not least, maintaining proper oral health is very important. This involves brushing twice a day, flossing, using a mouthwash, etc. You should also consult a reliable dentist nearby and undergo professional dental care from time to time.
Dentures are an excellent tooth-replacement option. So, if you are suffering problems related to one or multiple missing teeth, choose to go for dentures without hesitation. Also, be careful to maintain your dentures for optimum results.