Most importantly with new dentures is to keep them clean. It is vital that you treat them as you would your natural teeth. Thorough cleaning can prevent gum inflammation and bacterial or fungal infections. It is recommended that you clean them TWICE a day, once in morning after you have eaten breakfast and last thing at night.
- When cleaning your dentures make sure that you clean them over a bowl of water in case you drop them in the sink. Ensure that you clean all the surfaces of the dentures, that is including the surfaces which are in contact with your gums. Scrubbing too hard may damage the denture surface.
- A lot of denture cleaning products are available. Specialist soaking solutions can help in removing staining and bacteria. However we do not recommend that you use these solutions overnight or on a regular basis. It is important NOT to use any type of bleaching product as this in time can weaken the denture as well as altering the colour of the pink acrylic and tooth shade.
- Special attention should be payed in case of cleaning soft lining dentures. Any cleaning product should be checked with the dentist before using as it may damage the lining.
- With metal denture the cleaning procedure remains the same as with a plastic denture. However it is ESSENTIAL that you DO NOT leave them in any soaking solutions for longer than 10 MINUTES as some commercial products can damage metal. Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions before use.
- As general rules of conduct with denture use, we recommend their removal at night to give the mouth a chance to rest. When removed, the dentures ought to be placed in a container of plain water. This will prevent the acrylic from drying out and cracking.
- It’s still important to visit the dentist regularly as other areas of the mouth are routinely checked. These include the soft parts like tongue and cheeks and any mouth infections or conditions can be picked up at the earliest stage.
