Dentures can give you a confident smile, a beautiful way to express yourself, and the ability to chew your favorite foods. For many people, dentures are the best thing that has happened to them in a long time.
Because of how important they are, it’s crucial that you keep up with the day-to-day care of your dentures. Proper care of your dentures helps make sure they will serve you well for the long haul.
So today, we’re going to talk about the most important part of denture care: cleaning. After we show you why cleaning is so important, we’ll talk through how to go about cleaning your dentures. Let’s get started.
Why Is Denture Care Important?
Cleaning your dentures might not seem like the biggest deal in the world, especially if you have had them for a while. It’s easy to think that this piece of acrylic should be able to withstand not getting cleaned for a little while — besides, you don’t need to worry about tooth decay anymore… so, what’s the big deal?
Well, neglect adds up, and there are a lot of consequences to not keeping your dentures clean. Here are some of the reasons why you ought to be cleaning your dentures every day.
Bad Breath
Bad breath can ruin a conversation and put you in some uncomfortable social situations — not to mention the toll it may take on your confidence.
Dentures can gather bacteria and odors just like real teeth, and it takes an effective cleaning process to help make sure your dentures stay fresh.
Gum Disease
You might not have to worry about tooth decay anymore, but you still have to think about gum health. Your gums are vulnerable to the bacteria on your dentures, meaning if you don’t keep them clean, the bacteria can build up and even infect your gums, leading to gum disease.
Not only can gum disease lead to pain and discomfort, but if it goes unchecked, it can also lead to bone loss in the jaw. It’s best to avoid gum disease at all costs, and keeping your dentures clean can help keep your gums from being exposed to a buildup of harmful bacteria.
Stains and Cosmetic Issues
One of the main reasons why dentures are so important is because they give you that beautiful smile you’ve been missing. But if you don’t clean your dentures, stains can build up, leaving them not looking quite their best.
Sure, stains aren’t the biggest deal in the world, but they can keep you from getting the most out of your dentures (and your smile).
Extend the Life of Your Dentures
A buildup of plaque and bacteria on your dentures can affect not only the look of the dentures but also their integrity. Excess plaque and bacteria can break down your dentures over time, and may cause you to need a replacement denture sooner.
Proper care and cleaning helps make sure that your dentures last for as long as possible. Denture cleaning is one of the main ways that you can extend the life of your dentures and get the most bang for your buck.
How Should I Clean My Dentures?
Cleaning your dentures is not as difficult as you might think. There are lots of different ways you can clean your dentures, but there are some general tactics you need to know.
Daily Cleaning
Cleaning your dentures every day is the most important part of denture care.
For the most part, it’s a good idea to run your dentures under some water and use a gentle brush to make sure you get all the food out of your dentures at least once a day. This will help to keep your gums healthy, keep your breath fresher, and more.
It’s also a good idea to soak your dentures every night. Most dentures need to stay moist in order to retain their shape, so this is an incredibly important step. It’s perfectly effective just to soak them in water nightly, but it’s even better to get a mild denture-soaking solution to let your dentures get a good cleaning. A denture solution can help remove bacteria, staining, and odors.
After you wake up, make sure you rinse your dentures well before putting them back in your mouth. Then you’re ready for the day with some nice, clean dentures.
Stain Removal
You also may be curious about how to remove stains or whiten your dentures. Well, the truth is that your dentures may never be as white as they were when you first got them, but there are some things you can do to help keep stains at bay and keep your dentures nice and white.
Hydrogen peroxide is a natural whitener that you can brush onto your dentures to keep them white. A mixture of baking soda and water can also help to minimize stains, keep your dentures white, and remove odors.
Just make sure to rinse your dentures thoroughly after using these methods.
Annual Cleaning
Finally, you should be seeing your dentist once a year to get a checkup and have your dentures professionally cleaned. First of all, this will allow your dentist to ensure that your dentures are still fitting well and that your gums look healthy.
Second, dentists clean dentures with an ultrasonic machine, which uses vibrations to give your dentures a deeper clean.
The Bottom Line
Now you know everything you need to know about how and why to keep your dentures clean. So get out there, show off your beautiful dentures, and make them last for years to come.
For more information about dentures, specifically anchored dentures, visit Renew.
Sources:
5 best ways to whiten your dentures | Authority Dental
Denture care: How do I clean dentures? | Naples Community Hospital Healthcare System
Gum (Periodontal) Disease: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention | Cleveland Clinic