Dentures are custom-made replacements for missing teeth, so you need to take care of them like they’re the real things. Whether you have partial dentures or not, it’s important to practice good oral care to keep your teeth healthy and your smile shining. At Mark Stephens DMD in Richmond, Kentucky, the team excels at preventative dentistry and cosmetic dentistry, where they specialize in crowns, bridges, dentures, fillings, veneers, and orthodontics. If you have removable partial dentures, your dentist will give you specific instructions for caring for your dentures.

Here are Mark Stephens DMD’s top oral care tips for taking care of partial dentures:

• Be Careful: When cleaning your partial dentures, handle them with care. Stand over a folded towel or a sink of water to protect them if you accidentally drop them.
• Brush & Rinse Daily: The team at Mark Stephens DMD will recommend a denture cleaner with the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. Brush your dentures like you would your natural teeth to remove food deposits and plaque and to prevent stains. Mark Stephens DMD recommends using a toothbrush specific for cleaning dentures; however, you can use a soft-bristled toothbrush, too.
• Soak At Night: The best way to make sure the dentures keep their proper shape is to keep them moist. When you remove your dentures, soak them in a denture cleaning solution or water, depending on if you have a partial denture with metal framework and clasps or precision attachments. The dentist at Mark Stephens DMD will recommend the best soaking solution for your dentures.
• Rinse & Repeat: Before you put your dentures back in your mouth, always thoroughly rinse them.

Follow these tips from Mark Stephens DMD for caring for your dentures, and you will ensure the health of your dentures and your mouth. For more information about the services offered by Mark Stephens DMD in Richmond, Kentucky, from dentures to orthodontics to Invisalign and veneers, visit the website, or call (859) 626-0069.