How to Practice Good Denture Care

Proper Denture Care information is hard to find. As a denture wearer and author of a book on dentures, I hope you will find these denture care instructions beneficial.

Instructions

• 1

  WHAT ARE DENTURES MADE OF?

  Today dentures are usually made of an acrylic base and plastic teeth. For an additional cost the teeth can be made of porcelain, which is more brittle and tends to fracture more easily.

• 2

  HOW LONG DO DENTURES LAST?

  Denture wearers have gotten by for five, ten, and even in some cases twenty years; before the dentures have become worn down to the extent that they have to be replaced. The American Dental Association suggests
  that five years can be considered the average length of time. The insurance companies tend to agree since that is the time frame they wait until they will cover the cost of another set of new dentures.

  Do not confuse How Long Dentures Last with how long it will be before your dentures will need a reline. You should not think that because your dentures may last five years or more that you will not need to see a dentist in that length of time. This is a denture and gum relationship and one is as important as the other.

• 3

  DENTURE SAFETY

  When soaking your dentures overnight, you should always keep your dentures in a cleaning solution and in a safe place. Precautions must also be taken while cleaning your dentures.

• 4

  KEEP DENTURES WET

  You should keep your dentures in water AT ALL TIMES when not being worn, not on a nightstand or in a drawer. NEVER expose dentures to hot water. Dentures that are allowed to dry out and or exposed to hot water may become brittle and WARP. I can not stress this point enough.

  Just imagine something as simple as this could cause you to have to go through the whole process again. Not only having to be fitted again but seeing your hard earned money going down the drain because you no longer have a proper fit.

  You would be surprised to learn how many denture wearers leave their dentures laying around the house and also believe the hotter the water the better. This is simply due to lack of proper denture care information.

• 5

  DENTURE BRUSHES

  As an experienced denture wearer I have used them all and my advise would be to use a regular, narrow, soft toothbrush. I started out with a Denture Brush made specifically for cleaning dentures. The brush was too hard and cumbersome. A hard brush can damage your dentures inside and out. It can scratch and make the inside base of your dentures rough causing your gums to become sore from the irritation. A hard brush can also cause the enamel to wear off from the denture teeth.

• 6

  THE CORRECT WAY TO BRUSH

  After soaking your dentures overnight be sure not to brush vigorously. Brush your dentures lightly and rinse them thoroughly in cool water. The results will be a bright, fresh and healthy smile.