If you wear dentures, you should know that hygiene is just as important now as it was when you had natural teeth. You may even have a combination of natural teeth and a partial denture. It’s crucial that you take care of your denture so that you don’t cause harmful bacteria to build up in your mouth. Here are X hygiene tips for denture wearers.
1. Soak Dentures Overnight
Only if your dentist allows it should you wear your dentures while you sleep. For best hygiene, you should invest in a good quality denture cleaner and soak your dentures overnight. This gives adequate time for the denture cleaner to kill any bacteria on the dentures. Soaking your dentures isn’t just about making them look better; it’s about hygiene.
2. Clean Dentures Before Wearing
You might think that if you soak your dentures overnight, that’s plenty of cleaning. However, the denture cleaner isn’t something you really want in your mouth. For best hygiene, clean your dentures after you take them out of the soaking solution and before you insert them in your mouth. You should always clean your dentures before you wear them, especially if for some reason you didn’t soak them overnight.
3. Use a Soft-Bristled Brush
There are special denture cleaning brushes, but you can substitute with a soft-bristled toothbrush if you don’t have one. Use a special denture cleaner; not regular toothpaste. Your dentist can recommend one for you, or maybe even give you a sample to try.
4. Ask For a Demonstration
If you are new to wearing dentures, ask your dentist for a demonstration as to the proper technique for cleaning your dentures. The manufacturer may even have some literature that you can review to make sure you’re doing it right.
Depending on why you needed to get dentures in the first place, you may not have taken dental hygiene seriously in the past. You should realize that being lax about taking care of your dentures can have harmful effects on your gums and oral health, just as if you were taking care of natural teeth. It’s time to get serious about dental health. Use the four tips above to take excellent care of your dentures!