Having good oral hygiene habits with dentures is just as important as it was with your natural teeth. With proper care, whether they are partial or full dentures, you can prevent stains and keep them free from bacteria. Here are some of the best ways to clean and care for your partials and dentures.

Cleaning Dental Appliances

To keep your partials and dentures clean, rinse them off after each meal. If you’re unable to do that, then make sure to brush them at least once a day with a mild dish soap, hand soap or denture cleanser. Be sure to rinse them thoroughly, especially if they are going into your mouth after cleaning them.

At night, soak them in water or denture cleanser to get them clean and keep them moist. Whenever your dentures are not in use, they should be soaking. If they are not in water, then they can dry out and shrink.

Handle them Carefully

Whenever you’re cleaning your partials or dentures, work over a folded towel in case you drop them. Since denture material is acrylic, they can break if they’re dropped on a hard floor or in your sink.

Refrain from brushing them too vigorously or using the wrong type of cleansers. Using a hard-bristled brush or an abrasive cleaner can scratch the dentures or the acrylic on your partial. Don’t use a whitening toothpaste or anything with bleach in it as they can change the color of the teeth.

When cleaning your dentures at night, also brush your tongue, gums, and the soft tissues of your mouth. Bacteria can still grow in your mouth and damage your mandible or jawbone.

Don’t Dismiss Sores in the Mouth.

Ill-fitting dentures can cause sores on your gums, so if your partial or dentures have chips on them, contact one of our dentists at Greenlake Dental in Seattle, WA to get it repaired. They can also rub a blister on your gums, which you can treat by swishing warm salt water over it.

However, if your dentures or partial doesn’t fit well, make an appointment with one of our dentists to have an adjustment so that they fit comfortably.