For a patient with removable dentures, it is crucial to remove your dentures once a day, preferably at night, and clean them thoroughly by carefully rinsing off any loose food particles.
Cleaning your dentures
Do not use regular toothpaste as it can actually damage the base of the dentures due to the abrasive particles in the toothpaste. There are specific denture cleaning fluids that you can purchase from your local chemist or supermarket. It is also wise to get a specific brush to clean the dentures. Using a brittle toothbrush can actually do more damage than good to the dentures.
When cleaning dentures, it is important to keep the dentures above a towel or soft surface. Dropping the dentures, even just a few inches above a hard surface, can cause them to crack or break. Dentures must stay wet at all times and must not become dry. Thus, it is best to keep the dentures in water when one is not wearing them at night. In some cases, patients can keep their dentures in a cleaning solution overnight but please speak to your dentist to confirm if this is the best alternative for your denture type.
If the dentures are not removable and stick to the patient’s gums, then the dentist will recommend a different cleaning regimen. In many cases, caring for implant dentures will be the same as taking care of regular teeth with brushing twice a day. Patients need to take care of their gums and mouth as well.