How to care for and clean dentures

In short: dentures last longer and cause fewer problems if you care for them daily: clean them after eating (no regular toothpaste, which scratches), take them out at night so the gums rest, and have them checked now and then. Four simple habits that avoid stains, bad smell and rubbing.

Everyday cleaning

After every meal: take them out, rinse them under the tap to wash away food, and brush them with a denture brush and mild soap or a specific tablet. Don’t use regular toothpaste: it’s abrasive and over time scratches the surface and dulls it. Rinse well before putting them back. Do it over a basin with water or a towel: if they drop, they won’t break.

The soak

Once a day it’s good to soak them in a specific denture cleaner (tablet or liquid) for the time on the packet. It removes the plaque and bacteria the brush can’t reach and leaves them fresh. Rinse well afterwards.

Take them out to sleep

Unless your dentist says otherwise, out at night. The gums need a break from the pressure, and wearing them 24 hours encourages infections (the typical “irritated mouth under the denture”) and bad smell. Keep them in water or the solution so they don’t dry out or warp (never in hot water).

Look after your gums too

Even without your own teeth, massage the gums, tongue and palate with a soft brush or gauze. It improves circulation and keeps the mouth healthy so the denture sits better.

Check-ups and adjustments

Over the years, the gum and bone change and the denture stops fitting the same: it starts to move or rub. Don’t force it or glue it at home: the dentist adjusts, relines or renews it. A yearly check-up is enough, even if it’s fine. And if you’re fed up with it moving, there are more stable options such as dentures on implants.

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Does your denture move, rub or just not feel right anymore? Bring it in and we’ll check it; often an adjustment works wonders. The first visit is free: book an appointment.