Caring for your new dentures can look very different from how you used to take care of your natural smile. However, with good at-home and professional dental practices, you can help keep your prosthetic looking excellent and prevent oral health problems from arising, like thrush and gum infection. One of the most important daily habits to start is soaking your dentures overnight. Read on for three reasons you won’t want to forget to do this!
Your Dentures are Porous
Even though your dentures don’t look porous, the materials that they’re crafted from can be! Acrylic and resin can be visibly cleaned with regular brushing, helping prevent discoloration; however, small pores in your denture can still collect bacteria and become trapped. Over time, this can make your prosthetic develop a strange smell as well as lead to gum infections like thrush. Soaking allows for a more penetrative method of cleaning and disinfecting, helping keep these unwanted effects from occurring.
Kill Germs & Prevent Health Risks
You should always soak your dentures in a special denture cleanser, which usually involves placing a small tablet in a glass of water before putting your prosthetic in the glass. These tablets contain antibacterial agents that are able to kill 99.9% of germs on your denture. Plus, as they soak, the cleanser will be able to penetrate the small pores mentioned above for a deeper clean. By doing this, you can prevent illness that could be caused by consistently exposing your mouth to unwanted germs and viruses.
Give Your Gums a Much-Needed Rest
By soaking your dentures overnight, you’ll be helping them maintain their shape, brightness, and keep them from smelling. An extended soak in an antibacterial cleansing solution will rehydrate them in addition to giving your gums a rest. This can prevent sores and inflammation from developing as a result of wearing your prosthetic too often. When this occurs due to wearing your dentures for too long, it can put you at a higher risk of developing an oral infection and make it more difficult to wear them.
Many patients love their dentures so much that they never want to take them out! However, traditional dentures aren’t designed to be permanently affixed within your mouth like implant dentures are. With nightly soaking, you can help keep your dentures in tip-top shape, enhancing their function and your comfort while wearing them.
About the Author
Dr. Arrechea is a dental veteran with over 20 years of experience. She is known for crafting beautiful, high-quality dentures, as she spent several years sharpening her skills at Glidewell Dental Lab before moving into private practice. To learn more about the different tooth replacement options she offers, visit Daily Smiles Dental Dallas’ website or call 214-624-6221 to schedule a consultation.