How to Keep Your Dentures in Perfect Condition

 In Knowledge Centre

Proper denture care is imperative if you want to extend its lifespan. Dentures allow you to speak clearly, chew your meals, and smile with confidence. If you take proper care of them, your dentures should keep in perfect condition. Keeping that in mind, we have some common denture care tips to share.

1.   Take Great Care When Handling Dentures

Although dentures are strong and long-lasting, they can be broken. When handling your dentures while cleaning we recommend that you have something soft on the counter or in the sink just in case you accidently drop your denture.

2.   Clean and Brush Gently

Dentures and soft liners need special care if you want them to look good and last. Naturally, you want clean dentures for oral hygiene, but you also want fresh breath and a sparkling smile. Nonetheless, caring for dentures and cleaning your natural teeth are two different things, but equally important tasks.

Soak your dentures in a cleaner designed for the job. We recommend Denture Brite denture cleaner because it outperforms its competitors. It is proven to reduce microorganisms and remove food, stains, and plaque. Denture Brite is readily available in many retail outlets including Walmart.  Soak your denture for as little as 20 minutes or overnight for stubborn stains or tartar build up.

After soaking, brush your dentures well using a denture brush and liquid dish soap. Do not use toothpaste or denture paste because it is abrasive and will scratch the surface of the acrylic, plastic or porcelain materials. Scratches provide an ideal hiding place for food and bacteria which can lead to denture stains and bad breath.  Household dish soap is a gentle, inexpensive, and safe alternative to denture paste cleaners. Rinse your dentures well before reinserting in your mouth.

Make it a habit to rinse your dentures after each meal. If your denture has a build up of calculus or debris that you can not remove, bring it to your denturist for a professional clean.

3.   Reline Your Dentures Every 2 to 3 Years

Many denture wearers believe loose dentures are normal and just something they must put up with. Consequently, they use denture adhesive, ignore the issue, and don’t visit their denturist. This is unfortunate, as regular denture maintenance improves comfort, fit and oral health. A loose denture also has a tendency to increase the chance of denture breakage while eating.

One of the primary causes of loose dentures is bone resorption.  It occurs naturally as you age and after teeth have been extracted. The boney ridge that supports your dentures gradually recedes over time, which leads to ill-fitting dentures and a sunken facial appearance.

The first line of defense against bone resorption is denture maintenance. You should have your denturist check the fit, bite and the condition of your dentures every year. At that time, your denturist may suggest either a reline or rebase to improve comfort and fit or replacement of your dentures if your bite is not correct or the denture teeth are worn down.  It is recommended that denture wearers replace their dentures every 5 to 7 years.

4.   Take Proper Care When Not Wearing Your Dentures

When your dentures are not being worn, they should be kept safely in a closed container keeping them out of reach from children and pets.  Keep your dentures in water or in a denture cleaning solution to keep them moist. Never place dentures in hot water, as they can warp and lose their shape.  Always store your spare denture in a safe place just in case you need it, never throw it out.

5.   Keep A Spare Denture

Dentures can break for many different reasons. This can leave you feeling vulnerable if you are not able to get it repaired immediately by a denturist.  Using glue to repair your denture is often the first thing that comes to mind however, this is not a long-term solution and may damage your denture beyond repair if it breaks again. If you don’t have a spare denture, this is a good time to consider having a back up denture made by your denturist so that if you lose or break it you don’t have to go without teeth.

 

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~ Live Your Best Life, Let Us Perfect Your Smile ~

For more information about complete or partial dentures or how to care for your dentures, please call 604-530-9936 or visit www.yourdenture.com to set up an appointment for a complimentary consultation.

Darren Sailer and Colin Harty, Denturists, are BPS trained and Certified SEMCD clinicians at Brookswood Denture Clinic – Denture and Implant Solutions. Clinic HERE to find out more about the Denturists.

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