Taking proper care of your dentures is essential to your oral health. Regardless of what type of dentures you have, it is important to make sure they are clean and bacteria-free. Proper maintenance will keep them fitting and working right each time you slip them into your mouth. Read below to learn a few tips to help make wearing dentures in Moses Lake a comfortable, problem-free experience.
Keeping Them Clean
If your dentures are not cleaned and soaked every day, they can deteriorate and become unfunctional. Here are a few things to remember when it comes to keeping them clean:
- Before beginning your cleansing routine, place a soft folded towel on your counter or fill your sink with water. Doing either of these can help prevent them from breaking if you accidently drop them.
- Brush your dentures using a denture brush and a dentist-approved cleanser.
- Once you’ve brushed your dentures, rinse them with warm water. Hot water can cause them to warp and make them unusable, so it should be avoided at all costs.
- Most dentures, both partial and full, need to stay moisturized. Once your dentures have been thoroughly cleaned, be sure to soak them in a mild denture solution overnight.
- Be sure to avoid whitening toothpastes and stiff-bristled brushes, as these can damage your dentures.
Storing Dentures
When your dentures are not in use, they should be stored in room-temperature water or denture solution. They are typically made of acrylic materials, so if they dry out, they can become brittle or lose their shape. Make sure to rinse them in warm water before placing them back in your mouth, as some chemicals in denture solution can be painful to swallow or possibly cause vomiting.
Keep Up with Your Oral health
Make sure to brush your gums, tongue, cheeks, your natural teeth and the roof of your mouth with a fluoride toothpaste and soft-bristled brush every day. This will prevent plaque buildup, minimize bad breath and help reduce your risk of gum irritation. Rinsing with warm salt water or a fluoride mouthwash is also an important part of maintaining good dental hygiene. Even well-maintained dentures won’t fit and work properly if your mouth is unhealthy.
Whether you have a partial or full set of dentures, your denture care routine will directly affect your oral health. Making sure they remain stain and bacteria free will help them last for many years to come. If you have questions about caring for dentures, your dentist in Moses Lake is happy to help.
About the Author
Dr. Craig Harder has provided high-quality dental care to his patients in the Moses Lake area for more than 20 years. Since his graduation from Creighton University’s dental school, Dr. Harder has completed hundreds of hours in continuing education courses with a focus on esthetics and minor orthodontics. If you need help with your dentures, visit the website or contact the office at (509)765-4351 to schedule an appointment today.