How To Make Your Dentures Last Longer

Dentures are a great way to replace your missing teeth so you can smile, eat and talk with no problem whatsoever. But, these prosthetic teeth also need a little care and maintenance to make sure you avoid damaging or staining them and reducing their life expectancy way ahead of time. Fortunately, these steps won’t be hard to follow at all. Let’s take a look at how you can best take care of your dentures:

Avoid bending your dentures

You should be very careful when handling your dentures, especially when cleaning them. Avoid bending the plastic or the clasps when trying to fit them in your mouth or when cleaning your dentures as this may actually crack them instead.

Brush your dentures daily

You should brush your dentures at least once a day. Quite like your natural teeth, your prosthetic teeth can collect bacteria over the course of the day too. Gently remove your dentures and soak them in water at the end of the day. Using a non-abrasive cleanser and soft-bristled brush, gently brush your dentures to remove any food particles and other deposits. Make sure you rinse your dentures out the next morning before putting them back in. Never use denture cleaners inside your mouth as this is a toxic chemical once ingested.

Rinse dentures after eating

Remove your dentures and hold them under running water to thoroughly cleanse them and wash away any loose food particles after a meal.

Soak dentures overnight

Dentures need moisture to maintain their shape so you should ideally soak your dentures overnight. You can use water or a denture-soaking solution for this. Refer to our dentist or the manufacturer’s instructions to see the recommendation for soaking dentures overnight.

Clean your mouth

You should also clean your mouth after removing your dentures. First, clean any existing natural teeth using a soft-bristled toothbrush, after removing your dentures. Don’t forget to clean your tongue, palate, and cheeks using a soft toothbrush or gauze. These areas are often neglected but are capable of breeding plenty of bacteria.

Regular checkups with your dentist

Go for regular dental checkups as recommended by your dentist. Your dentist will ensure that your dentures are properly fitted and that your mouth is healthy. Apart from that, make it a point to see your dentist if you feel that your dentures have become loose. Loose dentures pose a risk of infection, irritation and sores. Your dentures should ideally be replaced every 5-7 years to stay perfectly fitted as your jaw tends to change shape over time. By following all these steps, you can make sure that going in any earlier for replacement is avoided.

Avoid using bleaching products

Avoid using abrasive cleaning material, bleaching products, whitening toothpaste or hot water on your dentures. These can weaken and damage your dentures. Soaking dentures in bleach-containing products that contain chlorine will corrode the metal in dentures.

Simply follow these steps and your dentures will be in tip-top shape until it’s time for relining or replacement. Check out our denture treatment or feel free to reach out to our team if you want to know more about dentures or how to maintain them better.