Without proper care, dentures won’t last as long as they should and the patient’s health may suffer, so it is really important to stick to a regime of thorough daily cleaning and care supplemented by regular visits to your dental professional.

Here are some helpful tips on how to take care of your dentures:

Keeping them clean.   Whilst you don’t have to worry about getting cavities in your dentures, you do need to clean them regularly to avoid a build-up of dental plaque and tartar.  Just like natural teeth, dentures collect bacteria and food debris which can cause bad breath and affect the health of your teeth and gums so you need to brush them twice a day to keep them clean and comfortable.

Use the right equipment.  You should clean your dentures twice a day with a soft brush using a special denture toothpaste.  Standard toothpaste is not advisable and you should avoid using corrosive products like vinegar.

Give your gums a break.  Saliva is an amazing cleanser and dentists recommend that you remove your dentures at night to let your saliva hydrate and clean your gums and your mouth.

Soaking your dentures.  When your dentures aren’t in your mouth, it’s a good idea to soak them in water.  Adding a special anti-bacterial tablet to the water will also help to sterilise the dentures and keep them fresh and clean.

Clean your gums.  Maintaining your overall oral health is just as important as keeping your dentures clean, so you should brush your gums, palate and tongue with a soft toothbrush to stimulate circulation in the tissues and remove plaque.

Avoiding stains.  Modern high quality dentures look just like natural teeth, and just like natural teeth, they need regular maintenance by a professional dental practitioner.   You may find that you can’t get rid of some stains or build-up through regular brushing and you will need to have your dentures professionally cleaned.

Schedule regular visits to the dentist.  The structure of your mouth changes over time and it’s vital that you see your dental professional on a regular basis to ensure that your dentures are in good condition and that they fit properly.  Loose or ill-fitting dentures can cause sore spots and swelling on your gums, so for optimum functionality and aesthetics, it’s important to have them checked, adjusted if necessary and professionally cleaned on a regular basis.

Even though dentures need specific care that differs from the regular brushing and flossing of natural teeth, taking care of them isn’t a hassle.  Keeping them clean and healthy should just be part of your normal daily routine, supplemented by regular visits to your dental clinic for a professional check-up and clean.

Our friendly and caring oral health professionals here at Discount Dentures in Perth and Joondalup will happily provide further information on denture cleaning and care.  We provide a complimentary annual denture clean for our patients because we know the importance of care and cleaning in prolonging the lifespan of dentures and ensuring our patient’s overall oral health.

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We debunk six of the most common myths about dentures and explain just how beneficial these innovative products are.

People can see when you’re wearing dentures

Dentures are carefully made by our professionals to resemble your natural teeth as closely as possible.  The false teeth are made from a variety of different materials in a range of different colours, sizes and shapes so that your new smile looks natural, plus the base of the dentures is carefully matched to the colour of your gums to ensure a seamless transition between gum and dentures.  Our dental professionals will also carefully position the false teeth during fitting to ensure a natural look.

Dentures are for old people

Even though teeth are incredibly strong, they aren’t indestructible.  They will suffer from wear and tear as time goes by and people age.  However, it’s not uncommon for younger people to experience tooth loss as a result of tooth decay, illness and injury which may require them to wear dentures or partial dentures.   In the past, traditional dentures made some people look older because the were set too far back, creating sunken cheeks but modern dentures are much more cosmetically appealing and will support your features, even making you look younger!

It’s difficult to eat or speak while wearing dentures

During the early stages of wearing new dentures, it’s perfectly normal to experience some readjustments with speech and eating.  During this settling-in period (which may take a few weeks), people may need to learn where to put their tongues, work out how to manage saliva and practice pronunciation of some words, but the good news is that this is temporary.  Once people get used to wearing dentures, speech and eating become second nature.

Dentures are only necessary for eating

There are plenty of misconceptions around dentures and eating – one of which is that dentures are only for meal times.  Yes, dentures help you eat and you don’t have to restrict your diet to soft foods, but they serve other important purposes too.   In addition to improved nutrition (you get to enjoy more of your favourite foods too!), dentures also protect your gums and protect any remaining teeth, can help with speech issues and will benefit your health and your appearance.  In fact, many people choose to wear dentures because they lead to greater self-esteem and self-confidence, particularly in social situations.

Dentures last forever

High quality, well-made and professionally fitted dentures should last a long time – provided they are well cared-for, of course.  However, our mouths do change shape over time and sore spots can develop if dentures become loose as a result of any bone loss or shrinkage.  It’s really important to schedule regular check-ups so that the dentist can make sure that the dentures are fitted correctly and check your overall oral health.  Sometimes, it’s possible for the dentist to alter your false teeth to improve the fit, but please don’t attempt this yourself as you will risk causing permanent damage.

All dentures are the same

Not all dentures are the same. It’s really important to choose high quality products that are expertly made and professionally fitted to look good and last longer.

Discount Dentures has a reputation as one of the best-priced dental clinics in Perth, offering great quality dentures at affordable prices.

If you have any questions about dentures, need any other myths debunked or are curious to learn more about whether dentures are right for you, please get in touch with us. Our highly experienced and compassionate team specialises in dentures in Perth and Joondalup and we offer a range of professional services including general dentistry, emergency dentures, new dentures, denture repairs, tooth whitening and smile makeovers – all at surprisingly good prices. We’d love to answer your questions and help you find your best smile, so please contact us on 08 9300 2332.

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