The Dos and Don’ts of Denture Care

Dentures are an excellent alternative to natural teeth, and denture care is as simple and easy as traditional dental care. This is particularly true for those who have lost all of their teeth or those who may be missing one or more front teeth due to an injury. But with any dental product, some precautions should be taken to ensure they last as long as possible and maintain proper hygiene.

Understanding the dos

Do brush your dentures

Using a brush with a denture cleaning solution is recommended to keep your dentures clean. Dentists recommend denture cleaners and solutions because they are specifically designed for this task.

Do eat a soft diet

It's recommended that you eat a soft diet while you are adjusting to your dentures. Hard or crunchy foods can damage your denture and cause them to come loose on occasion.

Do change denture sealant

Dentures can lose their fit over time and need to be re-fitted by a dentist. This can be caused by denture sealant, which wears out at different rates for everyone. You should get denture sealant changed every six months.

Do replace dentures

Dentures can lose their shape or fall out over time due to normal wear and tear like any dental product. If you notice cracks in dentures or they fall out of place regularly, you replace them immediately. This can happen to dentures as early as six months after they have been inserted into your mouth.

Do create a maintenance routine

Creating an easy denture care routine will ensure you can keep your dentures clean and denture sealant intact. Before bed, you should brush dentures with a denture cleaning solution and place them in denture cases or cups to protect them from getting dirty while not in use during sleep.

Do clean dentures before storing

Cleaning dentures before storage is necessary because you'll be able to keep them clean when not in use. All dentures should be cleaned nightly to ensure they last and maintain their proper fit.

Understanding the don’ts

Don’t use alcohol on dentures

Alcohol can dry out the material of your dentures, causing them to crack or break over time. Also, soaking dentures in alcohol will remove any denture adhesive that might still be on them.

Don’t use toothpaste on your dentures

Toothpaste has chemicals in it that can break down the material of your dentures over time (especially if you're using whitening toothpaste). If you want to clean them, try using a cleaning solution designed specifically for dentures.

Don’t use denture cream

Dentists recommend avoiding denture creams because they harbor bacteria that can attract more germs into your mouth, increasing the risk of a dangerous infection.

Don’t miss dentist appointments

Dentures that are not fitted by dentists who specialize in dentures may slip out of place too frequently, along with denture sealant, which will cause dentures to lose their fit over time. Patients should seek denture specialists if they have any questions or concerns with denture care. Always seek a dentist's professional advice when caring for dentures.