Complete Denture Instructions

Dentures are mostly-plastic false teeth made to replace missing teeth. They are a last-resort solution for tooth loss. In the most severe cases, patients require a complete set of dentures, which replaces all natural teeth. Whether complete or partial, following your dentist's instructions for care, maintenance and use of your dentures is imperative.

Get Comfortable With Your Dentures

• Wear your dentures exactly as directed. Your dentist may want you to wear your dentures overnight and throughout most of the day at first. This is likely only for the first few to several days until your dentures fit properly and your mouth has adjusted to their presence. Continue to follow your dentist's directions.

  Practice your chewing technique slowly and with small amounts of soft food at first. Get familiar with the feel and dimensions of your dentures before ascending to bigger, tougher foods. Use both sides of your mouth evenly to chew. This maintains balance and alignment for your dentures.

  Practice speech often. Pronouncing some words and phrases may be difficult at first. Repeat the words that give you difficulty until they are easy to say. Read aloud whenever possible until words are easy and comfortable to pronounce.

Denture Care and Consideration

• Dentures are delicate. Don't drop them any distance. Handle them over water or something soft. Keep them safe and out of reach of others.

  Do not wear dentures that do not fit properly. Dentures that do not fit irritate the gums and can cause painful mouth sores. See your dentist as soon as your dentures fit loosely, cause pain or irritate consistently.

  Only use denture adhesive as reinforcement for dentures that already fit properly. Do not use denture adhesive on dentures that do not fit well as a substitute for care or replacement.

  Never attempt to realign, adjust or repair your dentures. You may do serious damage to both your dentures and health by trying to work on them yourself. See a dentist immediately if you have a problem such as chipped, cracked or loose dentures.

  Maintain regular visits through an appointment schedule you arrange with your dentist. You will still need regular examinations after your dentures are comfortably in place.

Cleaning Your Dentures

• Brush your dentures with a denture brush. Use a soft toothbrush if you do not have a denture brush, as hard bristles may damage the dentures. A rinse and gentle scrubbing are necessary to keep dentures free of plaque and food debris. Brushing your dentures also keeps them clean in appearance. Mild hand soap or dishwashing liquid will suffice if you do not use a denture cleaner. Avoid abrasive substances such as household cleaners and bleach.

  As per your dentist's direction, soak your dentures in a denture care soaking solution or water any time you are not wearing them. This is particularly important overnight. Soaking your dentures keeps them clean and prevents them from drying out, which may cause distortion. Never use hot water, which may distort your dentures as well.

  Take good care of your mouth as well as your dentures to keep them both healthy and functioning properly together. Brush your gums, tongue and roof of your mouth with a soft-bristled toothbrush at least once daily. Brush before inserting your dentures when you wake up.