Take Out Your Dentures Overnight
You should remove your dentures every night before going to bed. This gives your gums and the tissue an opportunity to breath at night. It is especially important with full dentures to remove them every night while you sleep.
While you are sleeping saliva production is low and between your upper dentures and your palette becomes a perfect breeding ground for the overgrowth of bacteria and fungus. Not removing your dentures at night can result in dental Stomatitis. Stomatitis is inflammation of the tissue under a denture. It can be uncomfortable and invite an overgrowth of candidiasis (yeast infection of the oral cavity).
A good time to soak your dentures in a special cleaning solution like Efferdent is over night. It can help to kill any bacteria and get rid of food stains on your dentures.
A Soft Toothbrush Only
Your overdenture or partial dentures are susceptible to scratching and developing fine lines, just like the enamel on your teeth is. When cleaning dentures be sure to use a soft bristle toothbrush, or get a special denture brush. Regular toothpaste can be too abrasive for denture cleaning. A commercial denture cleanser is a better option. Bleaching is not recommended.
Only Use Approved Cleaners
Never use household cleaners to clean your dentures. Some people used a mild dishwashing liquid on their dentures, but this is not really recommended. Follow the American Dental Association for recommendations on a denture cleanser.
Keep Up On Your Oral Hygiene
Having a set of dentures does not mean you do not have to perform regular oral hygiene. You can use a soft bristle toothbrush to clean your gums and a good mouthwash. If your gums are sensitive a damp clean cloth can be used to wipe around inside your mouth.
Implant Retained Dentures Need Special Care
Dentures that are retained by dental implants need special attention. The site of the implants needs to be cleaned regularly, scale can and will build up on the posts and can cause your implant supported dentures to not fit right.
Brush the area paying special attention to around the abutments (posts).
Keep Dentures Safe
It is important that you keep your dentures safe when they are not in your mouth. While they are durable, they still should not be dropped, or left to sit out. Your dentist will give you a denture container that you can fill with fresh room temperature water to store your dentures in when you are not wearing them.
Avoid using very hot water in the container to keep from affecting the shape of the dentures. One of the most important denture care tips is to keep your dentures safe when they are not in your mouth. Accidents do happen, if you need denture repair Friendly Dentistry is happy to help.
