Dentures Care 101

Denture care is something anyone looking to get dentures should be aware of. Caring for your false teeth is similar to how you care for real teeth and it is important that you clean them often. Here are some tips about how to properly care for your false teeth

Rinse dentures after eating - Full and partial dentures require care, including rinsing your false teeth after you eat whenever possible. It is hard to get every nook and cranny of your false teeth rinsed with them in your mouth, so the best way to rinse them is to take them out of your mouth, rinse them under running water, swish water through your mouth, and replace them.

Handle with care - Dentures are fragile and should be handled with care so that they do not break. No one wants to have to pay for a second set of dentures because they were broken while being cleaned. Filling the sink with water or a fluffy towel to “catch” the denture if you accidentally drop it can help avoid a break. You should stay aware of how you are holding the denture as well, especially lower full dentures. It is possible to squeeze the ends of a lower denture together and cause a fracture in the front. 

Soaking & Cleaning overnight - False teeth need to stay moist when not being worn. This helps mainly to stop the material from getting brittle but can also help to maintain their shape. Soaking is also the best way to be sure they are free from bacteria. Brushing with a soft toothbrush and regular toothpaste twice a day (morning and night) is great and should be done daily, but soaking penetrates into the porous surface and prevents the growth of bacteria that can cause yellowing. It is possible to wear your dentures through the night, but this could add wear to your dentures as many people grind without realizing it. Soaking overnight in regular water or denture cleaning tablets works best. Partials fit around remaining natural teeth and if you leave the partial out too long, you may affect the fit of the partial. Your natural teeth are mobile and your mouth will shift your teeth over time to spread into those open spaces. Leaving a partial out overnight is fine, leaving it out for days, weeks, or months means that you may not be able to get them back in. 



Schedule regular checkups - Every year or every other year checkups and cleanings for your dentures can help them to last longer and can maintain fit. The inside of your mouth, like the rest of your body, continues to change as you age. Dentures can be refitted to those changes with relining. You may go years without needing anything more than a tartar removal and polish, or you may lose weight and need to have relines done. Checking in and asking questions never hurts. 

Contact Smile Again Dentures for more information about our options for full or partial dentures. Our dental services are available for Lewiston, Auburn, and Brunswick, ME.