8 Tips on How to Care for Your Dentures

1. Brush teeth and gums every morning and before bedtime. Brushing your tongue and roof of the mouth is also important. This will remove plaque, stimulate circulation and reduce the incidence of severe bad breath.

2. Never sleep with your dentures in your mouth. Your gums and tissues need to ‘breathe’ and have a rest from the pressure of your dentures.

3. Every night, clean the inside and outside of your dentures with a soft toothbrush and mild liquid soap like Palmolive or Sunlight dish soap and rinse off thoroughly. Always clean your denture over a basin filled with water or a large folded towel. Dentures will break if they drop on a hard surface such as the bathroom floor or basin. Prevention of damage is important.

4. Once a week, clean your dentures with a professional strength denture cleaner like Polident by following the manufacturer’s instructions.

5. After meal or snacks, rinse out your mouth and dentures with water. This will prevent food from sticking to the teeth/dentures and will help prevent cavities and bad breath.

6. See your dentist regularly for a check-up and cleaning.

7. If you notice any sore spots or have pain, see your dentist.

8. Don’t get discouraged. You need to get accustomed to your new dentures, especially if you have been wearing your older one for so long.

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