Denture Blog

How To Keep Your Mouth Clean When You Have Dentures

November 10, 2021

If you’ve been hiding your smile and avoiding certain foods for years, a new set of dentures will be a welcome change. Digital Denture Centre, a leading denturist in Surrey BC, has provided hundreds of clients with life-changing dentures and partial dentures all over the lower mainland.

Granted, dentures take some time to get used to. One of the biggest adjustments is the care that dentures require. They are a delicate investment, after all, but they can last quite a long time if cared for properly.

Cleaning your dentures is more involved than just brushing them as you would your teeth; even the way you brush your dentures needs to be done differently than how you would brush your teeth.

Here are a few helpful tips to remember when cleaning your dentures.

Clean After Meals

It is recommended that dentures be thoroughly cleaned after meals. This doesn’t need to be a drawn-out process. Simply removing them and rinsing them under water to remove any visible debris will do. You might be tempted to use hot water in order to kill any bacteria, but excessively hot water can actually warp your dentures, resulting in a less secure fit to your mouth. Lukewarm or even cool water is best.

After your dentures have been thoroughly rinsed, gently brush your mouth, cheeks and gums with a very soft toothbrush. This ensures that no food residue is trapped between your gums and your dentures.

Finally, rinse your mouth one final time and reinsert your dentures.

Have Them Cleaned Professionally

Digital Denture Centre, your denturist in Surrey BC, offers professional cleaning services for your dentures. It is recommended to have them professionally cleaned annually. 

Remove Them at Night

After you have been wearing your dentures for a while, they can start to feel like a part of you, and you may forget to take them out at bedtime. However, doing so can cause a number of health problems. The pressure that dentures put on your jaw can cause significant bone loss, which would result in a looser fit over time. Additionally, dentures can block the path of saliva in your mouth. A lack of saliva can cause a condition known as denture stomatitis, or thrush, and is the result of bacteria build-up on your gums, leading to painful, red, and swollen gums.Not to mention that sleeping in your dentures can give you some serious morning breath.

At night, remove your dentures and, after brushing them with a very soft toothbrush, place them in fluid to soak overnight. Dentures need to remain moist for a couple of reasons. First, the acrylic that they’re made from can easily dry out, making them more prone to cracking or chipping if you drop your dentures. Dry acrylic can also warp and lose its shape, which will affect the way your dentures fit.

You can soak your dentures in denture solution or even mild mouthwash, but dentists and denturists agree that plain tap or filtered water is all that’s needed. However, denture solution can be used every so often to reduce any build up on the surface.

If dentures would be a welcome addition to your smile, visit a trusted denturist in Surrey BC at Digital Denture Centre today.