To extend the life of your dentures, proper care and regular visits to our dentist office are extremely important. We will give you detailed instructions on how to best care for your new dental appliance.  This will include information on whitening dentures, brushing them correctly, sleeping and eating with dentures, and general things that you should and shouldn’t do when you have dentures. An easy first step is always to remember to take them out at night to rest your gums as the pressure from the denture can wear them down over time. Below are some questions that we are frequently asked by patients that are considering them.
Can I Sleep While Still Wearing My Dentures? In some cases, it is alright to wear your dentures at night especially if we have advised you to do so, but in most cases it is preferred that they be removed before bedtime. Removing them at night gives your gums a chance to rest. If for some reason you need to keep them in while you sleep, it is recommended that you never wear your dentures for more than twenty-four hours.  You need to take them out to clean your mouth and your prostheses thoroughly, practicing proper oral hygiene.

How Do I Clean My Dentures? Toothpastes are designed to be used on real teeth, and even though they may contain chemicals that help whiten natural teeth, they may harm dentures. Dentures are made out of a very durable plastic but they aren’t as strong as enamel, which is what real teeth are made out of. It is recommended that when you take out the denture, it should be cleaned daily with a brush designed especially for dentures and dish washing liquid. Before you go to sleep, they should be taken out, cleaned, and then soaked in a water-based cleaning solution until the next morning. You should refrain from using bleach to clean or disinfect your denture unless you have been given special instructions by our office for how to do so.

Can I Whiten My Dentures? It is not possible to whiten dentures like natural teeth because dentures are made of plastic, and toothpaste doesn’t have the same effect it does on plastic as it does on enamel.  In order to reduce staining, you should properly clean your dentures every day. We encourage patients to gently scrub their dentures daily with a brush that is designed specifically for dentures or a soft toothbrush and non-abrasive soap or a variety of over-the-counter denture cleanser products.   If the stains are minor, we can provide you with further tips and solutions for removing them. Tougher stains might have to be removed in our office.

How Do I Fix Broken Dentures? If you have a broken or cracked denture, you should return to our office and have it repaired by a professional instead of attempting to fix it at home with adhesives. It is important that the repair is done correctly to avoid any issues such as the denture not fitting properly or the denture causing sore spots or worse, an infection. If your denture doesn’t fit closely to your gums anymore it may be too old, and you should visit our office for a new one.