Denture Care
YOUR DENTURE NEEDS CARE
You should care for your dentures as you would your teeth. Even if you wear full dentures, you still must take good care of your mouth. Brush your gums, tongue and palate every morning with a soft-bristled brush before you insert your dentures to stimulate circulation in your tissues and help remove plaque. Even with dentures you should continue to see your dentist on a regular basis.
Furthermore, dentures should be relined every 3-5 years because the bone will resorb (change shape and reduce) which will lead to a smaller gap between nose and chin and increased reliance on muscle rather than bone to support the denture – which actually speeds up resorption. There are many options around how to restore your teeth and your dentist will be the best placed to advise over which is most suitable.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR DENTURES
When you take your dentures out, stand over a folded towel or bowl of water. This way if you drop them, they will not break.
Store dentures in lukewarm water or denture-cleaning liquid overnight. Do not put them in hot water, and do not let them dry out.
Replace your dentures about every 5 years. Using your dentures daily “wears them out,” and you will need to replace them.
Clean your dentures every day. Cleaning helps prevent dentures from becoming stained and helps your mouth stay healthy.
Rinse your dentures to remove loose food particles.
Wet the brush, and brush your dentures with a denture cleanser such as Polident or Efferdent. Do not brush with toothpaste. It can scratch your dentures. You may be able to use hand soap or mild dishwashing liquid. Do not use household cleansers, which may be too rough, or bleach.
Brush every surface, scrubbing gently to avoid damage. Use a brush designed for cleaning dentures or a toothbrush with soft bristles. Do not use hard-bristled brushes, because they can damage the dentures.
Examine your gums daily before you put in your dentures. Let red,swollen gums heal before you wear your dentures again. If the redness does not go away in a few days, call your dentist. White patches on the inside of your cheeks could also indicate poorly fitting dentures.
Give your mouth at least 6 hours of rest from your dentures every day. Your mouth heals more slowly as you age and needs time to recover from the friction of wearing dentures.
Don’t put up with dentures that are too big, click when you eat, or don’t feel good. It takes time to get used to dentures. But if they are still giving you trouble after the first few weeks, talk to your dentist about fitting them again. Don’t try to “fix” your dentures yourself.
