How to Keep Your Dentures Healthy and Long-Lasting: Brushing Dentures and More

Dentures are designed to replace your missing teeth and improve your smile. They look natural and are made from various materials such as metal and acrylic. While denture teeth are false, they need to be cleaned regularly. This includes brushing dentures and other steps to keep them in perfect shape. 

How Dentures Must be Cleaned

Food and plaque stick to your dentures the way they stick to your natural teeth. Plaque forms on both teeth and dentures after you eat and drink. Not cleaning the dentures means letting plaque build up. When this happens, you can suffer from bad breath or gum disease. 

Cleaning dentures regularly is important to your oral health. Make sure you use a toothbrush with soft bristles, water, a soft towel, and mild soap or a denture cleaning product. Ensure you brush the dentures two times every day, just like how often you brush your natural teeth. Do not use toothpaste when you brush your teeth. The ingredients of many toothpaste brands can damage dentures. 

It is always a great idea to brush your dentures with a toothbrush designed for dentures to avoid scratching their surfaces. To ensure your dentures last a long time, they need to be cleaned every night after you remove them. 

How Often Should You Clean Your Dentures

Denture cleaning should be done twice a day. This must be done in the morning and before you go to bed at night. Also, they must be soaked in a dental cleaning solution or mild soap every night. While you must not use toothpaste when you brush your dentures, you need to use the product for brushing your natural teeth and gums twice every day. This is important for keeping the teeth and gums healthy as well as preventing bad breath. 

In addition, using mouthwash also helps you maintain good oral health. Use mouthwash made for dentures or remove your dentures when before you use mouthwash. 

Maintaining Your Dentures

When properly cared for, dentures can last up to 10 years. To maintain your dentures, you need to prevent food particle buildup on them. You can do this by removing and rinsing the dentures with warm water after you eat and drink.  Also, keep in mind that dentures can break easily, so handle them with care. When you remove and clean your dentures, always do so over a folded towel or a sink of water.