Whether real or fake, taking care of and maintaining your basic oral hygiene is a must. Things like brushing your teeth or flossing gums are crucial, especially if you want to keep your pearly whites strongly rooted.
But just as you clean your teeth, people with dentures have their own methods to follow. It doesn’t matter what type they are; you’re all set as long as you know how to clean dentures.
However, if you’ve just recently gotten prosthodontics or are simply curious, keep reading this blog to learn more.
How to Clean Dentures in 9 Simple Steps: A Step-by-step Guide
You’ve probably seen people in movies and cartoons dunk their set of dentures in a glass full of water right before going to bed. Although that isn’t wrong, there are quite a few other steps that take place beforehand.
This ensures that your fake teeth are sparkling clean. So, rather than soaking your dentures in a container of water, you can follow the steps mentioned below to deep clean your dentures.
Step No. 1. — Set an Alarm
You might think of this as extreme, but setting a specific time for cleaning your dentures is essential. This will boost you to get it done routinely every day. The preferable time for this is before heading to bed so that you’re done with eating and other such activities.
Step No. 2. — Make it a Daily Habit
The reason it’s important to set a routine for cleaning your dentures is because it helps avoid bacterial infection. When you clean on a daily basis, you can prevent all kinds of damage from taking root, allowing your dentures to last for a long time.
Step No. 3. — Prep Your Station
Before you begin cleaning, choose a sanitary place. Optimally, your bathroom sink is the best choice. You can even prep the area by laying out towels around the edges of the sink and on the floor to ensure maximum safety. In addition, filling the sink with warm water will also be helpful if your dentures accidentally slip out of your hands and fall.
Step No. 4. — Rinse Your Mouth With Warm Water
In order to loosen the hold of your dentures, swish around some warm water in your mouth. Make sure the water you use is lukewarm and not too hot, or it could damage the shape of your dentures.
Step No. 5. — Slowly Pull The Dentures Out
Once the adhesive has loosened, use your forefinger and thumb to push the base of the dentures outward. However, you need to be extra careful during this step to avoid harming your gums. Moreover, give the dentures a little wiggle before pushing them out to ensure they’re not stuck.
Step No. 6. — Give Them a Good Rinse
Immediately put your prosthodontics under running water when they’re out, giving them a good wash. This will clean away all the leftover gunk and food residue clinging to their surface.
Step No. 7. — Gently Brush The Dentures
Use a toothbrush with soft bristles to gently brush your dentures. Additionally, you can even opt for a special toothpaste made specifically for prosthodontics to prevent scratches and other damages.
Step No. 8. — Soak Overnight in a Cleaning Solution
Once your fake teeth are thoroughly cleaned and brushed, go ahead and soak them. You can use a cleaning solution or a glass of cold water to help them maintain their shape and lifespan.
Step No. 9. — Brush Your Gums
Lastly, when everything is done and dusted, it’s time to brush. Carefully brush your gums, the roof of your mouth, and the back molars. Don’t forget to brush with a gentle hand to prevent bleeding and other such wounds.
Bottom Line
To sum it up, it may look like there are many steps on how to clean dentures, but all these precautions are necessary. If you want to know more, contact Houston Dental Implant & Cosmetic Center at (713) 664-1661 (Bellaire) or (713) 436-7697 (Pearland).