Keep Your Dentures White, Bright, and Functional with These Tips

Dentures are lifelike and functional restorative devices that can help your smile stay healthy, beautiful, and complete for years. However, your appliance will break down sooner than necessary if you don’t take proper care of it. Here’s a quick look at how you can keep your dentures in excellent condition so you can enjoy having a lovely grin while avoiding unnecessary appliance replacements.

Rinse Your Dentures Between Meals

After eating or drinking anything but water, it’s best to remove your dentures and thoroughly rinse them to flush away food residues and loosen plaque and debris. This will help keep stain-causing agents away from your artificial teeth and reduce your likelihood of developing oral infections. Just remember to use only cool or lukewarm water when treating your dentures since hot or cold water can cause them to warp and lose their fit.

Practice Excellent Denture Hygiene

At least once day, you’ll need to remove your dentures for a thorough cleaning session. Begin by placing folded towels across your countertop and filling the basin of your sink with cool or lukewarm water to create a cushion in case you drop your appliance. Then, remove your dentures and carefully brush each of the exposed surfaces with a soft-bristled brush and a non-abrasive cleaning agent such as mild hand soap, unscented dish soap, gel-type toothpaste, or an approved denture cleanser. You’ll also need to floss your artificial teeth.

Store Your Dentures Properly

If you are not wearing or cleaning your dentures, you should soak them in a vessel with cool or lukewarm water or an approved denture soaking solution. This will discourage the growth of harmful (and smelly) bacteria and prevent your appliance from drying out and warping. It’s important for your mouth to go eight hours without wearing your dentures daily, so most people remove, clean, and soak their dentures just before going to bed. Be sure to store your dentures where curious children and pets cannot reach them.

Don’t let your dentures develop stains, discoloration, and unsightly accumulations of plaque and food debris. Be sure to keep them clean and functional with excellent maintenance habits.

About the Practice

Annigan Dental offers excellent oral healthcare to the community of Bothell. Led by Drs. Henry Hsue and Julia Fredrickson, the staff treats each patient with courtesy, respect, and exemplary customer service. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as denture services. To learn more about proper denture care or if your appliance doesn’t seem to be working properly, contact the practice online or dial (425) 492-6898.