How Often to Perform Denture Care

How Often to Perform Denture Care from Northside Dental Care, PC in Peabody, MAFor patients with dentures, proper denture care is necessary for preserving the life of these appliances and keeping them looking clean and attractive. Like natural teeth, dentures are prone to a buildup of plaque and food debris. With the right care, these prosthetic teeth will retain their shape and look their best.

What denture care is necessary?

Just like natural teeth, dentures need daily care. There are a few steps that need to be taken for proper oral hygiene each day.

Brushing

At a minimum, patients with dentures should brush them at least once per day. However, it is important not to use toothpaste. Toothpaste is designed as an abrasive to clean natural teeth. When used on dentures, it can cause very small scratches where plaque, bacteria and food debris can collect.

Instead, it is a good idea to use a special soft-bristled denture brush with a cleaner designed for dentures. Denture cleaning agents can be harmful if ingested, so patients should rinse dentures with clean water before replacing them.

Dentures are fragile, so it is also wise to place a towel or washcloth in the sink when brushing. If a patient drops the appliance by accident, this will cushion the fall and reduce the risk of the dentures breaking.

Rinsing

In some cases, patients may not be able to thoroughly brush with denture cleaner after each meal, and it is not necessary to use this agent multiple times per day. Instead, most dental professionals recommend thoroughly rinsing dentures with water after eating. Rinsing removes any leftover food particles and helps reduce the risk of plaque buildup.

Soaking

Depending on the type of dentures used, patients may have different instructions for overnight care. Most dentures, however, need to be soaked every night. Soaking helps dentures retain their shape. If they become too dry, dentures may not fit properly.

Soaking in plain water may be acceptable for some dentures, and others may need to soak in a special solution designed for the purpose. Just like denture cleaner, a denture-soaking solution may be damaging to delicate gum tissues. For patients using a soaking agent, it is important to rinse the dentures with water before placing them in the mouth. If denture-soaking or denture-cleaning solutions make contact with mouth tissues, it can cause burning, vomiting or mouth pain.

What happens if dentures are not cared for properly?

Denture care can sometimes be inconvenient. Nevertheless, if dentures are neglected, serious problems may occur. Some patients frequently sleep in their dentures. Doing so can result in increased bacterial buildup, which may cause bad breath. If done frequently, sleeping with dentures installed may cause infections.

If dentures are not cleaned thoroughly, plaque may build up. Just like plaque on natural teeth, plaque on dentures will harden and make it easier for bacteria to grow.

For patients new to dentures, dentists will typically go over the right way to care for both the appliance and the gums. Spending some time without wearing dentures, usually while sleeping, is necessary to give gums a rest and promote oral health.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Denture Care in Peabody, MA.

Conclusion

With consistent daily denture care, a patient's dental appliance will likely last many years. For patients unsure of how to properly care for their dentures, contacting a dental office for advice is a wise course of action.

Request an appointment or call Northside Dental Care, PC at 978-206-7077 for an appointment in our Peabody office.

Recent Posts

Questions To Ask Your Dentist When Considering Invisalign For Teeth Straightening

You probably have heard of Invisalign® but might not know how it differs from traditional braces when it comes to teeth straightening. Braces have been the go-to teeth-straightening device for many years. More recently, Invisalign has gained popularity in patients with crowding or spacing issues. Because it looks so different from traditional braces, you may…

Disciplined People Will Benefit From Invisalign Teeth Straightening

Invisalign® aligners work most effectively when you are consistent with using them. While that sounds simple, there are a lot of ways you might struggle with developing a routine. One of the reasons people like Invisalign aligners so much is because the trays are removable and customizable. But these things can also work against you…

Common Children's Dentist Procedures

A children's dentist can cover all aspects of your children's oral health. A dentist may suggest several procedures depending on your child's specific needs. However, the more common treatments involve cavity fillings and dental exams. A children's dentist can also do tooth therapeutic, restorative, and preventative treatments. The following covers some of the more common…

Recent Posts

Questions To Ask Your Dentist When Considering Invisalign For Teeth Straightening

Questions To Ask Your Dentist When Considering Invisalign For Teeth Straightening

You probably have heard of Invisalign® but might not know how it differs from traditional braces when it comes to teeth straightening. Braces have been the go-to teeth-straightening device for many years. More recently, Invisalign has gained popularity in patients with crowding or spacing issues. Because it looks so different from traditional braces, you may…

Disciplined People Will Benefit From Invisalign Teeth Straightening

Disciplined People Will Benefit From Invisalign Teeth Straightening

Invisalign® aligners work most effectively when you are consistent with using them. While that sounds simple, there are a lot of ways you might struggle with developing a routine. One of the reasons people like Invisalign aligners so much is because the trays are removable and customizable. But these things can also work against you…