If you recently received dentures from your dentist, you may be wondering how to best preserve them. While your dentist will go over most of this important information with you, there are certain maintenance tips you can follow to help extend the life and function of your dentures. Consider the following list of dos and don’ts when it comes to caring for them.

Do:

Clean them thoroughly.

After you finish a meal or snack, make sure you thoroughly clean your dentures. It’s especially important to clean them after every meal, as food can become trapped between your gums and the dentures. This can cause uncomfortable friction, as well as bacteria buildup. Additionally, cleaning them frequently will stop any foul odors from building up in or around your dentures.

Soak them overnight.

Dentures need to stay moisturized to keep their shape. To preserve them, soak them in water or a denture-specific solution every night when you go to bed. You can also talk to your dentist about how frequently you need to use a solution and other storage options your particular appliance requires.

Don’t:

Use whitening products.

The chemicals used in whitening products like toothpaste or strips can be incredibly abrasive to your dentures. Additionally, avoid items with bleach in them as this can discolor the prosthetic and weaken its strength. Properly cleaning your dentures daily should help them maintain their white appearance.

Clean in boiling water.

The base of your dentures is made from a malleable material. If you try to clean them or soak them in hot or boiling water, this may cause the piece that attaches to your gums to become warped or deformed. Once they become misshaped, you could experience discomfort when wearing them.

In addition to the above care tips for dentures, implants can help denture slippage.  If you want more secure dentures, implants are an option.  If your dentures are relatively new, many times implants anchors can be place under them so the dentures snap in place.

For more information about denture maintenance, talk with the dentists at Drs Emery & Scuro DMD, PC in Rochester, NY. For more than 35 years, this team of professionals has offered high-quality oral care services including preventive, restorative, and cosmetic treatments. To learn more about this dental practice, visit them online or call 585-247-7110 to schedule an appointment.