An essential part of prolonging the life of your dentures is taking good care of them. When your dentist says you have to maintain them with regular brushing, you might think about your normal daily oral hygiene routine. After all, brushing twice a day for at least two minutes has been ingrained in you for your whole life. Since your dentures are already in your mouth, can you just clean them as you’re brushing your teeth? Although that may seem easier, here’s why it’s not always the best idea.
The Truth About Brushing Your Dentures While They’re in Your Mouth
In short, yes. You can use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your dentures while they’re in your mouth.
That being said, while you can, you will still need to remove them at least twice a day to deep clean all sides and crevices. If you only do so as you wear them, you’re only scrubbing particles off the outer surface of your dentures.
The only way to get to the part of the denture that comes in contact with your gums is to remove them. Not doing so can result in bacterial buildup, increasing your risk of infection, inflammation, and pain.
As such, it may be more efficient to just remove your dentures for maintenance since you’ll have to do that anyway.
Denture Care Tips
Following these tips can extend the condition and function of your dentures and help maintain your oral health:
- Remove your dentures carefully and thoroughly brush away food debris and plaque. Make sure you’re doing this every day.
- Use regular toothpaste for your existing teeth, but do NOT use it on your dentures. It’s likely too abrasive. (If you want to use a cleaning paste, make sure it’s made for dentures specifically.)
- Even if you don’t have any more natural teeth, brush your gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth every morning and evening.
- If your dentures have plaque or tartar buildup, soak them in a vinegar water solution made of one part vinegar to four parts water.
- Soak your dentures in a cup of cold, fresh water when they aren’t in your mouth. When you remove them at night, you can put them in a glass of water or denture solution to keep them moist.
A good rule of thumb to follow is to brush your dentures as regularly as you would your teeth. Twice daily is the standard. If you have any questions about leveling up your denture care, your dentist will have the best recommendations for keeping them sparkling and spotless!
About the Practice
At Lake Oconee Dentistry, our dentists are eager to help you regain and maintain a confident and complete smile. Our experienced team is proud to offer both traditional and dental implant dentures for your comfort and satisfaction. If you want to know more about how to take care of your dentures, contact our Lake Oconee Dentistry team at our website or by phone at (706) 453-1333.