How to Care for Dentures Properly: Soak, Scrub, Stay Careful

Just like natural teeth, dentures need to be cleaned. Caring for dentures is a little different from caring for natural teeth. Here is how to care for dentures properly.

• Soak

Denture wearers are strongly advised not to wear their dentures to sleep at night. Doing so can make the dentures deteriorate faster. Besides making them wear out quickly, it can be unhealthy for your mouth even if you brush your teeth. The first step in caring for dentures is to soak them in water at night and leave them until morning. Soak them in warm water or in a special denture-soaking liquid. Do not soak them in hot water, as it can damage the dentures.

• Scrub

Natural teeth are cleaned by brushing, but dentures are cleaned by washing. The best times to wash dentures are after the overnight soak and after eating. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush. Apply soap and warm water, then brush gently. Do not wash dentures with detergent or toothpaste, because they can damage the surface of the dentures.

• Stay Careful

The last tip is to be careful when removing, washing and handling dentures. Dentures that fall onto a hard surface can break, because they are brittle by nature. For safer washing, wash them over a container filled with water, or submerge them while washing. Another precaution is to line the surface beneath the dentures with a sponge or towel.

Read Also: Dental Implants: Benefits and How the Procedure Works

Those are the most important tips for caring for dentures. To remember them easily, think of the three Ss: Soak, Scrub and Stay careful. Enjoy clean, long-lasting dentures.