How do you brush and clean dentures?
If you wear dentures, this doesn’t mean that your days of dental care or visiting the dentist are over. You must still care for your dentures properly in order to maintain good oral health.
Let’s look at a few tips that will help you keep your dentures in great condition.
Clean Your Dentures Daily
The first thing to remember is that dentures require daily cleanings to stay in tip-top shape. If not, they can wear out and require a full replacement. Plus, if you don’t clean your dentures and they become filled with food particles, you could end up doing a lot of damage to your gums. In other words, you should be treating your dentures just as you would your natural teeth.
Clean the Dentures with Baking Soda
Baking soda has a long list of uses, from deodorizing your refrigerator to freshening your carpet, but it’s often been used as a cleaning substance. In fact, it’s the perfect solution for taking care of your dentures on a daily basis. Just make sure that you get into all of the little crevices and then rinse your dentures once you’re done.
Soak in a Salt-Water Mixture Overnight
Whether you have full dentures or partial dentures, it’s not a bad idea to soak them overnight to keep them clean. Take a glass large enough to contain them and then stir in a solution of water and a tablespoon of table salt. Gently lower the dentures into the glass so that they’re completely covered by the salt-water mixture. If you get into this habit of soaking your dentures overnight, it’ll be a lot easier for them to stay clean.
Clean After Eating Foods That Stain
Just like natural teeth, you should brush your dentures after every meal. At the very least, however, you should make sure that you’re cleaning them soon after eating any foods or beverages that may stain your teeth. This includes coffee, tea, fresh berries, red wine, some vinegars, and several other types of items. Doing this will prevent your dentures from becoming stained.
Only Use a Soft-Bristle Toothbrush
Some people may think that brushing dentures with a hard-bristle toothbrush is the way to go because they’re sturdier than your natural teeth. This isn’t the case at all. You should actually treat your dentures just as you would your normal teeth, which means that you should opt for a soft-bristle toothbrush. This will gently clean your teeth just as well and you won’t have to worry about damaging them.
Deep Clean with a Formulated Tablet
As with normal teeth, dentures should be deep cleaned every once in awhile. There are several different types of effervescent cleaning tablets that you can find at your local grocery store or pharmacy. These tablets are designed to remove plaque, food particles, and bacteria that have accumulated over time. Combining this denture cleanser with daily cleanings will help ensure that the dentures stay in great condition.
Schedule Regular Dental Visits
Just because you no longer have your original teeth doesn’t mean that you can simply forgo regular dental visits. You should still be consulting with your dentist twice per year to make sure that everything is okay with your oral health. You may need a professional cleaning or the dentist may have some advice to give you on how to keep your dentures clean and in good shape.
Contact Dr. Ferullo for Help with Brushing Dentures and Dental Care
Dr. Ferullo can help improve your dental health. If you have any questions about brushing dentures, whitening treatments, or any other dental needs, contact our St. Petersburg dentist office by calling (727) 822-8101 to schedule an appointment today!
