Without teeth, life can be a struggle. Losing your teeth, whether to old age or unfortunate incident, can begin to make even the simplest of tasks more difficult, can potentially be a blow to feelings of self-confidence.

That’s why cosmetic dentures are a godsend for those suffering from tooth loss and the struggles that accompany it.

Whether you’re just looking into dentures, recently have gotten them, or have had them for years, it’s important to understand what is involved in caring for your dentures.

Removable dentures require attention and special care just like real teeth do.

Proper care taken with removable dentures can help to increase their longevity for the years to come. Proper denture care is also an incredibly important part of keeping your gums or any remaining teeth healthy.

Check out the following tips and tricks for keeping your false teeth happy and healthy.

Regular Cleanings (With One Exception)

You should clean and brush your dentures each day the same way you would real teeth. Dentures should be cleaned daily to rid them of food, plaque or any other foreign materials. That being said, there is one clear difference in cleaning dentures as opposed to real teeth: you should never brush with toothpaste.

Why?

Toothpaste is abrasive and can create microscopic scratches on false teeth where food and plaque can then grow. Toothpaste can be more damaging to dentures than helpful.

Instead of toothpaste, consider using ordinary household soap. These soaps are mild and can still do a first-rate cleaning job, especially if they contain an anti-bacterial agent. There are also pastes on the market made especially for dentures and false teeth, but these are often very expensive.

No matter what you use, you’ll want to put it on a soft brush and rinse with warm water afterward. Brushing daily will help to keep your dentures clean and healthy, and will prevent the development of unseemly permanent stains.

It’s also worth noting that cleaning your dentures and cleaning your mouth are two different things– when removing your dentures, it’s still advisable to use mouthwash or other cleaners to help keep your gums healthy and clean.

Be Kind And Use A Soft Brush

A soft toothbrush or nailbrush is the way to go in caring for your dentures. Hard bristle brushes have the potential to damage or even slowly wear down dentures and false teeth.

Even for real teeth, many doctors and practitioners advise against using hard bristle brushes for oral care, citing potential damage and pressure to the gums that can be caused. Especially for those with dentures, soft brushes are the safest and most comfortable option.

There are also brushes on the market made specifically for dentures. These brushes are slightly larger than normal toothbrushes and have two different brush heads– a smaller and a larger one for maximum flexibility in cleaning.

These toothbrushes are inexpensive and can usually be found in your local drug store with little to no difficulty.

Take Proper Care and Precaution

Taking care of your false teeth means more than just cleaning them well. There are thousands of stories of dentures breaking due to a lack of proper care or foresight.

One of the most common stories involves dropping dentures into the sink while cleaning them. This sort of fall onto the hard porcelain of a kitchen sink can very easily result in a cracked or damaged set of dentures.

A helpful tip to avoid this occurrence would be either to stand over a folded towel or fill a sink water before beginning to clean your dentures. This way, if an accident occurs, your dentures will find a nice, safe landing.

Taking these kinds of precautions in general around your house will make for a long, lasting relationship with your false teeth. You should make sure to leave your dentures in safe, non-accessible places when you’re not wearing them. There are countless stories of pets or children knocking over, stepping in, or otherwise damaging false teeth that were left out in the open.

When dentures are not in your mouth or being cleaned, they should be stored safely according to your doctor’s instructions.

Give Them An Overnight Break

Dentures are not intended for around the clock wear. Removing them overnight should be an essential before bed tradition– not only for your dentures’ sake but also for your own health and benefit.

Removing dentures can help your saliva do a more efficient job of cleaning and sanitizing your mouth of bacteria or foreign objects. Overuse of dentures can also result in irritants or issues relating to jaw bone support and tooth loosening.

In even worse cases, it can result in serious oral infections.

It’s essential to let your gums rest. Taking your dentures out when you’re not using them is vitally important to the overall health of your mouth.

Taking A Break? Let Them Soak

When not in your mouth, the healthiest place for a pair of dentures to be is somewhere moist.

Keeping dentures in a moist environment can help to prevent them from drying out or losing their shape. There are many denture cleansing solutions available on the market that are perfect to leave your dentures in for long periods of time.

Besides, these solutions, even just plain water can be a good home for your dentures while they’re out of your mouth.

That being said, you should be careful to never leave your dentures in hot or boiling water, as the temperature could easily warp the shape of your false teeth.

Your doctor should be able to recommend the best soaking methods for your particular set of dentures. Always consult your doctor about proper denture care.

Keeping A Happy, Healthy Pair Of False Teeth

If you’re new to dentures, learning to take care of them can be something of a small learning curve. But taking the proper care and precaution can help to keep your mouth and false teeth looking good and healthy for years to come.

Making the dive into dentures soon? We’d love to help. Jiva Dental is committed to providing the best possible customer care. Feel free to contact us with any further denture questions you may have.