Dentures are an investment in your health and appearance. Properly fitted dentures can help you to eat a more balanced diet and have greater self-confidence and a better quality of life. They can be costly for many people. For this reason proper denture care and maintenance is essential. With attention to maintenance and fit, you can avoid unnecessary denture repair and replacement costs.

Wearing Your Dentures

Quality dentures should be comfortable and fit your mouth well even without denture adhesive. If they hurt or you need to use a lot of adhesive to keep them in place, you need to have your dentist address the issue. Even the best denture adhesives cannot compensate for a poor fit. This is not to say that denture adhesives do not have their place. Denture adhesives can help to make wearers feel more confident and secure, and they can help to prevent friction sores especially among new denture wearers.

Cleaning Your Dentures

Keeping your dentures clean will keep your breath fresh and your smile bright and, more importantly, it will keep your mouth healthy. Bacteria and food particles that cling to a dirty set can damage your gums and any remaining teeth that you have. When cleaning them, make sure to avoid household cleaners or toothpaste. These substances are often too abrasive for such chores, so they can scratch your dentures. Instead, use pastes and cleaners specifically designed for dentures, and follow the instructions on the labels. Keep in mind that soaking alone is not sufficient to clean them. Make sure to brush with a soft-bristled brush and denture paste in addition to soaking the dentures in a cleansing solution. Proper denture care with a commercial cleaner will leave them clean, so you will have a healthy mouth and fresh breath.

Storing Your Dentures

When you take your dentures out at night or at other times, you need to keep them moist. If dentures dry out, they lose their shape. This leads to poor fit. To avoid this problem, soak your set in water or denture cleanser when you are not wearing them. Make sure to consult your dentist about a proper soaking solution if your dentures have metal parts, as these can tarnish when soaked in most solutions.

The Bottom Line

Proper denture care will ensure that your investment in your good health and appearance is safeguarded. It will help you to avoid painful infections and sores, avoidable dentist visits and the costs of unnecessary denture replacement and repair. A little effort now could save you a lot of time, money and inconvenience in the future.