How to Clean and Maintain Your Dentures

Whether you already have dentures, are thinking about getting them, or know someone who has them, you probably have many questions. Many of our clients ask us how they can provide long-lasting care and maintenance to their new dentures at home and how to avoid common oral healthcare bad habits with their new teeth. Some people forget that just because your new teeth are technically artificial doesn’t mean that they don’t require the same amount of tender loving care you’d give to natural teeth.

When clients ask for tips on how to clean their new smile, here’s what we like to tell them.

Why You Should Clean Your Dentures

Plaque and tartar (the sticky films that attach to your teeth after eating and drinking) build up on dentures the same way they do on natural teeth. If you don’t clean your dentures daily (ideally after every meal), they’ll start to deteriorate. Bacteria will also begin to grow and strengthen, causing your dentures to weaken and smell bad.

What’s the Most Effective Way to Maintain and Clean Dentures?

When caring for your dentures, it’s critical to develop a morning and nightly routine, much like you would do with natural teeth.

Daily cleanings are essential to your dentures’ longevity, and it’s a straightforward process.

Regular Brushing

When you speak with one of our Denturists at St. Boniface Denture Clinic, you’ll quickly realize that having artificial teeth isn’t that much different from having natural teeth. Brushing after every meal will help ensure the longevity of your teeth.

Credit: Anna Shvets via Pexels

You’ll need:

·         A Soft-bristled Toothbrush

·         Water

·         A Soft Towel

Always use a soft brush to clean your teeth because it will be much more gentle than a regular or electric toothbrush. There’s also something called a denture brush — a toothbrush made exclusively for cleaning dentures. It is a little bigger than a standard-sized toothbrush. It also has two different brush heads for more efficient cleaning, bristles designed appropriately to fit flush with dentures, and an ergonomically designed handle. Do not use this brush on any remaining teeth or your gums, it’s too rough. Use a regular soft tooth brush for that job.

A Cleaning Solution

Your best bet is to purchase a high-quality denture solution. Denture cleaning solutions are typically sold as tablets or powders that dissolve in water. The first step is to fill a designated glass or denture container with the appropriate amount of water (look for the instructions listed on the solution packaging) and tablet. As that dissolves, you can remove your teeth from your mouth, brush them, and then gently place them in the container or glass to soak.

You can find overnight solutions that will clean your teeth overnight, and you can also find products that will clean your dentures within a matter of minutes. Always remember to rinse off your dentures before you put them back in your mouth.

At St. Boniface Denture Clinic, we want you to look and feel your best. We’ll make sure that you know how to maintain your new teeth at home, and we’ll provide you with all of the tricks of the trade. You’re going to feel amazing, and we want that feeling to be long-lasting.