A Comprehensive Guide to Caring for Your Dentures

Cleaning and storing your dentures properly is important for a variety of reasons. Cleaning your dentures is important for inhibiting bacteria growth in your mouth. The bacteria in your mouth feeds on the food that gets stuck between your teeth, creating tartar and plaque. Tartar and plaque can cause your remaining teeth to decay as well as increase your likelihood of developing gum disease. It is also recommended that you remove your dentures for between 1 and 5 hours each day to allow the soft tissues in your mouth time to breath. Removing your dentures while you sleep allows the tissues time to breath and soaking them overnight in a proper cleaning solution inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria.

Storing Your Dentures

When you are not wearing your dentures store your dentures in room temperature water. Water that is too hot could melt your dentures, and water that is too cold could shrink them. Dentures that have melted or shrunk will no longer fit properly and can cause mouth pain and other problems. Storing dentures in water also keeps them from drying out and causing them to become brittle and increasing their likelihood of breaking.

Cleaning Your Dentures

When soaking your dentures it is recommended that you add a cleaning product such as Polident to the water in order to kill bacteria and inhibit the growth of new bacteria. Brushing your dentures after meals with a denture brush is also important for removing food and bacteria and preventing your dentures from staining. Never use toothpaste to clean your dentures. The scrubbing particles in toothpaste are hard on your dentures and will scratch them. This not only reduces their longevity but also creates tiny crevices that harbour bacteria making your dentures more difficult to clean. If you notice that tartar is building up on your dentures soak them in a water and vinegar mix to loosen the tartar so that it can be easily brushed away.

Cleaning Your Mouth

Just as you should never use a toothbrush on your dentures you should also never use a denture brush on your remaining natural teeth. This is because denture brushes can damage your natural teeth, causing a variety of problems.

Keeping your mouth tissue clean is just as important as cleaning your teeth and your dentures. Clean your mouth by rinsing with salt water once in the morning and once before bedtime unless otherwise instructed by your physician. You can also clean your gums, the roof of your mouth and the insides of your cheeks using a very soft toothbrush or a damp washcloth. Cleaning the soft tissues in your mouth is important for inhibiting bacteria growth.

Immediate Dentures

Dentures that have been inserted immediately after one or more of your natural teeth have been extracted require special care instructions. Do not remove your dentures for at least 24 hours after insertion and ensure you follow all care instructions recommended by your dentist. Ensure that you have an adjustment appointment with your dentist or denturist booked for the next day so that they can assess the fit of your dentures. It is also strongly recommended that you follow up with your dentist or your denturist 3 months, 6 months and 12 months after you receive your new dentures. While you are adjusting to your new dentures they may feel bulky or make your mouth sore, both of which are normal. Should you begin to experience pain, contact your dentist or denturist immediately. At your 6 month appointment you will receive a soft liner for your new dentures and at 12 months your new dentures will need to be relined with a permanent liner.

The Longevity of Dentures

The average lifespan of a set of dentures is 5 years. Your dentures should be relined every year in order to ensure they remain comfortable and do not damage your gums, and your dentures should be replaced every five years. Dentures are subject to a lot of wear and tear and the lifespan of each pair depends on a variety of factors. This means that some individuals will require new dentures in less than 5 years. To ensure your dentures are in good condition you should book an appointment with your denturist at least once per year. To help ensure your dentures are in good condition Future Smiles Denture Clinic offers free yearly evaluations for all patients new and old.

For more information on denture care, or to book an appointment, contact the Future Smiles Denture Clinic today at 403.475.0016 and visit calgarydentureclinic.net.