Millions of people today enjoy having complete smiles after tooth loss thanks to modern dentures. These amazingly comfortable and astoundingly lifelike prosthetic dental appliances can bring a range of benefits such as improved chewing power, clearer speech, and improved confidence, but it’s important to give them the care and maintenance they need to keep them in excellent shape. Here’s a brief guide to why you should soak your dentures overnight.
Continuous Wear Leads to Oral Health Scares
Modern dentures are so incredibly comfortable that some patients may be tempted to simply leave them in their mouths for days or even weeks on end, but this is a recipe for dental disaster. The space between your denture and your gums is exactly the sort of moist, damp, and sheltered space that is ideal for harmful oral bacteria to breed in, and stray food particles can also become trapped in this area. This can lead to bad breath, gum irritation, oral infections, or even jawbone erosion. Removing your dentures every night gives your mouth the time it needs to rest and clean itself.
Dentures Left Out to Dry Will Leave You Horrified
When you remove your dentures for the night, it’s crucial to set them to soak in a container filled with lukewarm water or an approved denture-soaking solution. Dentures that are left exposed for too long will dry out, which will cause them to warp, lose their fit, and become brittle.
Soaking ensures that your dentures stay in good condition overnight so you can wear them comfortably in the morning. Just remember to never expose your appliance to hot water, as it can cause it to warp.
How Should I Soak My Dentures?
Before removing your dentures for the night, fill your sink with room temperature or lukewarm water and cover your countertop with folded towels to create a cushion in case you drop your appliance. Then, remove your dentures, thoroughly rinse them off, and carefully floss and brush them using a soft toothbrush and an approved denture cleaner. While your dentist may recommend using gel toothpaste, traditional toothpaste is too abrasive for the artificial teeth of your appliance and will leave unsightly scratches in them.
After you have cleaned your dentures, rinse them off and place them in a glass or another container with enough water or denture-soaking solution to immerse them completely. Always rinse your dentures off thoroughly to wash away any cleaning chemicals before reinserting them into your mouth.
Soaking your dentures is an essential part of keeping them presentable and in working order. With excellent care, your appliance may last for as long as ten years before needing replacement.
About the Author
Dr. Marc Moulton earned his dental degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry before completing a one-year residency program at the Veterans Administration Hospital. He is proud to be a member of the American Dental Association and the Alabama Dental Association. His office in Birmingham offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as denture services. To learn more about proper denture care, contact his office online or dial (205) 988-3360.