If you have dentures, you understand the power and confidence dentures can give with just one smile. But only if your dentures are clean, fit right and are well taken care of. Here are some things not to do with your dentures:
A.) Avoid stiff-bristled brushes, strong cleansers and harsh toothpaste, as these are too abrasive and can damage your dentures.
B.) Toothpastes advertised as whitening pastes are especially abrasive and generally should be avoided on dentures.
Do not use any bleaching products because these can weaken dentures and change their color. Don’t soak dentures with metal attachments in solutions that contain chlorine because it can tarnish and corrode the metal.
C.) Avoid hot or boiling water that could warp your dentures.
Now that you know what not to do, here’s seven golden rules to keep your dentures clean.
Remove and rinse dentures after eating.
Run water over your dentures to remove food debris and other loose particles. You may want to place a towel on the counter or in the sink or put some water in the sink so the dentures won’t break if you drop them.
Clean your mouth after removing your dentures.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush on natural teeth and gauze or a soft toothbrush to clean your tongue, cheeks and roof of your mouth (palate).
Brush your dentures at least daily.
Gently clean your dentures daily by soaking and brushing with a nonabrasive denture cleanser to remove food, plaque and other deposits. If you use denture adhesive, clean the grooves that fit against your gums to remove any remaining adhesive. Do not use denture cleansers inside your mouth.
Don’t worry about mouth changes
As your mouth gets used to your dentures, you can sometimes produce more saliva than usual. Sometimes drooling when unexpected. Over time this will get less and less so it’s nothing to worry about.