New to Dentures? Here’s How to Take Care of Them

If you’re missing all or some of your teeth, your dentures provide you with essential functionality that can help restore your smile. Dentures make talking and chewing possible even when you’re missing many teeth. In addition, many people would feel self-conscious if they didn’t have dentures to help restore their smile.

Dentures serve an important function, and if you have dentures, maintaining them can prolong their service life. Your dentist in Foley, AL can help. At Sand Dollar Dental, we help patients take care of their dentures. Here’s what you need to know.

How to Clean Dentures

Cleaning dentures is easy with denture cleanser. Brush your dentures at least once per day by removing them from your mouth and using a soft bristle brush to brush your dentures. Use the brush and denture cleanser to remove stains and food particles from your mouth.

Other tips: 

• Brush your mouth including your gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth whenever you take out your dentures. Remove denture adhesive from the roof of your mouth when you do this.
• Remove your dentures and rinse them off after you’re done eating.

How to Maintain Dentures

In addition to the cleaning tips above, there are other ways to maintain your dentures. Here’s what we recommend for most patients with dentures:

• Handle dentures carefully. Dentures are breakable and need gentle handling when they’re not in your mouth.
• Put a towel on the counter or in the sink when you’re handling dentures. If you drop your dentures, they will be less likely to break if they hit a towel.
• Soak your dentures overnight. Remove your dentures overnight and soak them in water or a denture solution. This helps dentures keep their shape.

How Long Do Dentures Last?

How long dentures last varies depending on the material they’re made from and how well you take care of them. Many dentures will last about 10 to 12 years before they need to be replaced. When dentures get older, they’ll start to slip out of place easily, or they may become cracked. This is when it’s time to get new dentures.

Need Dentures? Contact Sand Dollar Dental

The professionals at Sand Dollar Dental provide dentures in Foley, AL. If you need dentures, call today.