How Often to Perform Denture Care

How Often to Perform Denture Care from Prince William Dental in Gainesville, VAFor patients with dentures, proper denture care is necessary for preserving the life of these appliances and keeping them looking clean and attractive. Like natural teeth, dentures are prone to a buildup of plaque and food debris. With the right care, these prosthetic teeth will retain their shape and look their best.

What denture care is necessary?

Just like natural teeth, dentures need daily care. There are a few steps that need to be taken for proper oral hygiene each day.

Brushing

At a minimum, patients with dentures should brush them at least once per day. However, it is important not to use toothpaste. Toothpaste is designed as an abrasive to clean natural teeth. When used on dentures, it can cause very small scratches where plaque, bacteria and food debris can collect.

Instead, it is a good idea to use a special soft-bristled denture brush with a cleaner designed for dentures. Denture cleaning agents can be harmful if ingested, so patients should rinse dentures with clean water before replacing them.

Dentures are fragile, so it is also wise to place a towel or washcloth in the sink when brushing. If a patient drops the appliance by accident, this will cushion the fall and reduce the risk of the dentures breaking.

Rinsing

In some cases, patients may not be able to thoroughly brush with denture cleaner after each meal, and it is not necessary to use this agent multiple times per day. Instead, most dental professionals recommend thoroughly rinsing dentures with water after eating. Rinsing removes any leftover food particles and helps reduce the risk of plaque buildup.

Soaking

Depending on the type of dentures used, patients may have different instructions for overnight care. Most dentures, however, need to be soaked every night. Soaking helps dentures retain their shape. If they become too dry, dentures may not fit properly.

Soaking in plain water may be acceptable for some dentures, and others may need to soak in a special solution designed for the purpose. Just like denture cleaner, a denture-soaking solution may be damaging to delicate gum tissues. For patients using a soaking agent, it is important to rinse the dentures with water before placing them in the mouth. If denture-soaking or denture-cleaning solutions make contact with mouth tissues, it can cause burning, vomiting or mouth pain.

What happens if dentures are not cared for properly?

Denture care can sometimes be inconvenient. Nevertheless, if dentures are neglected, serious problems may occur. Some patients frequently sleep in their dentures. Doing so can result in increased bacterial buildup, which may cause bad breath. If done frequently, sleeping with dentures installed may cause infections.

If dentures are not cleaned thoroughly, plaque may build up. Just like plaque on natural teeth, plaque on dentures will harden and make it easier for bacteria to grow.

For patients new to dentures, dentists will typically go over the right way to care for both the appliance and the gums. Spending some time without wearing dentures, usually while sleeping, is necessary to give gums a rest and promote oral health.

Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Denture Care in Gainesville, VA.

Conclusion

With consistent daily denture care, a patient's dental appliance will likely last many years. For patients unsure of how to properly care for their dentures, contacting a dental office for advice is a wise course of action.

Request an appointment or call Prince William Dental at 703-662-8287 for an appointment in our Gainesville office.

Recent Posts

When To Consult An Implant Dentist

Our implant dentist is here to help if you are considering getting dental implants. These are metal rods/screws that are placed into the jaw to replace missing teeth roots. Implants serve as bases for dental restorations that replace missing teeth like crowns, dentures, and bridges.Implants are often compared to real teeth since they do not…

An Implant Dentist Discusses Bone Growth And Healing After Placement

Considering dental implants? Read on to learn about the process from an implant dentist. Bone growth and healing are essential parts of the implant dentistry process. It can take time for the bone to grow and heal around the implant after it has been placed, so understanding what to expect and how long it typically…

What Are The Services That An Implant Dentist Provides?

An implant dentist is a dental professional who specializes in teeth replacement treatment with dental implant restorations. A dental implant is a screw-like titanium restoration that is placed into the jawbone and serves as the root of a replacement tooth (or multiple replacement teeth). In this review, we discuss the services that an implant dentist…

Recent Posts

When To Consult An Implant Dentist

When To Consult An Implant Dentist

Our implant dentist is here to help if you are considering getting dental implants. These are metal rods/screws that are placed into the jaw to replace missing teeth roots. Implants serve as bases for dental restorations that replace missing teeth like crowns, dentures, and bridges.Implants are often compared to real teeth since they do not…

An Implant Dentist Discusses Bone Growth And Healing After Placement

An Implant Dentist Discusses Bone Growth And Healing After Placement

Considering dental implants? Read on to learn about the process from an implant dentist. Bone growth and healing are essential parts of the implant dentistry process. It can take time for the bone to grow and heal around the implant after it has been placed, so understanding what to expect and how long it typically…