Dentures

How Should I Clean My Dentures?

According to the Journal of the American Dental Association (February 2011) in the United States approximately 26% of people aged 65-74 are toothless. While there are many people wearing dentures, there weren’t many scientific recommendations on how best to take care of the dentures or partials. In 2009 the American College of Prosthodontists created a committee to analyze journal articles in order to create scientific, evidence-based guidelines on how to care for dentures. After reviewing the data, they came up with the following suggestions.

1. Rinse your dentures with water after eating in order to remove any bits of food from the denture. This will prevent rubbing on the gum tissue. [Just a tip from your team at Library Park Dental: when you are handling your dentures, it is often helpful to place a washcloth in the sink to help cushion any fall that may occur.]
2. Brush any remaining teeth and clean your palate, tongue, and gums with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
3. Clean your dentures daily with denture cleaner and a soft denture brush. Be sure to avoid whitening toothpaste as it is too abrasive for your denture. After cleaning, rinse your denture in water before replacing them in your mouth. Some of the chemicals in the denture cleaners can hurt your gum or cheek tissue.
4. Soak your dentures in water when they are not in your mouth. Never use boiling water as that can change the shape of your denture and cause problems with the fit. Ask your dentist or your hygienist at Library Park Dental for a case if you do not have one.
5. Ask your dentist about the use of denture adhesives. There is some indication that the use of adhesives in appropriate quantities (3 or 4 pea-sized beads) can help with how the denture fits and can help seal out food particles, in addition to improving confidence. But the adhesives must be removed from both the denture and the mouth every day.
6. See your dentist twice a year to evaluate how the dentures fit, examine the gum tissues, check for bone loss, and generally make sure you have good oral health. If your denture hurts or starts slipping, be sure to make an appointment right away so that you do not develop a sore or an infection.

At any time if you have questions about your denture, please contact us at Library Park Dental so that we can help you take care of your oral health!

The Journal of the American Dental Association (February 2011) 142, 1S-20S.