We are focusing on dental health this month, which includes many who use dentures.  Proper care is required for removable partial or full dentures.  It is important to keep them clean and free from stains.

Good denture care includes:

• Remove dentures after eating and run water over them to remove food debris.
• Be careful handling dentures.  When wet they become slippery.  If dropped you can cause damage to dentures.  Also, be sure not to bend or damage the plastic or the denture clasps when cleaning.
• Clean your mouth after removing your dentures.  Use a soft brush or gauze and clean your entire mouth (palate).  Remove any remnant denture adhesive.
• Brush your dentures (at least) daily.  Soak and brush with soft bristled brush and nonabrasive denture cleanser.  Don’t use denture cleaner inside your mouth.
• Soak dentures overnight.  Most types need to stay moist to hold their shape.  Water or mild denture –soaking solution can be used.  Check with your dentist about proper overnight storing of dentures.  Follow manufacturer’s guidelines on cleaning and soaking.
• Rinse well before putting dentures back in your mouth.  Some solutions contain harsh chemicals that can cause burning or pain is swallowed.
• Schedule regular dental exams.  For many reasons, this is important.  Your dentist can help with overall oral hygiene and health as well as proper use of dentures.  Make sure to check with your dentist if the fit of your dentures is not right.  Poor fitting dentures can cause irritation, sores and infection.

Avoid:

• Abrasive cleaning materials.  This can cause damage to dentures.
• Whitening toothpastes.  Often containing peroxide, whitening toothpastes do little to change the color of denture teeth.
• Bleach-containing products.  This can weaken dentures and change their color.  Don’t soak dentures in solutions that contain chlorine bleach.  It can tarnish and corrode the metal in dentures.
• Hot water.  Boiling water can warp your dentures.