Since dentures aren’t your natural teeth, you may think cleaning them shouldn’t take much effort. Isn’t it good enough to brush them while they’re in your mouth? That said, you really should make a proactive effort to keep these devices pristine; in-mouth brushing alone won’t cut it. Your Virginia Beach dentist can even show you the reasons for this fact. So, here’s why you should do more than brush dentures while they’re in your mouth.
Do You Need to Remove Dentures to Clean Them?
You don’t need to remove dentures from your mouth to clean them. Brushing them like you would natural teeth won’t harm the restorations or you.
Of course, you’ll need to take precautions if you go with in-mouth brushing. You should remember to use a soft-bristled toothbrush without any toothpaste. Most toothpastes are abrasive to dentures, so applying any could damage your prosthetic teeth.
Why In-Mouth Brushing Just Isn’t Enough
Even as in-mouth brushing shouldn’t harm your dentures, that habit alone won’t keep your smile clean. You’ll also want to brush your restorations outside your mouth; doing so is better for your oral health.
You see, in-mouth brushing only removes a little of your smile’s plaque and debris. It can’t reach all the parts of your dentures, leaving some of your prosthetics untouched. Relying on it alone would thus put you at risk of issues like gum disease, bad breath, dry mouth, etc.
Brushing dentures outside your mouth would avoid these outcomes. This option reaches all the parts of your restorations, so it effectively removes more harmful debris. All you need is the right toothbrush and a specialized denture-cleaning paste.
Other Tips on Cleaning Dentures
Aside from outside-mouth brushing, do the following when you clean your dentures:
- Be Careful – Any time you brush your dentures, try to hold them above water or a towel. Doing so ensures the prosthetics won’t break if they fall.
- Brush Your Whole Mouth – As important as dentures are, don’t just clean them; brush your whole mouth as well. Cleaning your gums, tongue, and palate reduces the bacteria that could cling to your prosthetics.
- Try Some Vinegar – To remove their tough tartar, consider soaking your dentures in a vinegar mixture. You can make the solution one part vinegar to four parts water.
- Soak Dentures Nightly – Remove your dentures before bed and soak them in a solution while you sleep. That way, they’ll be moist the following morning.
You can brush dentures while they’re in your mouth, but you should do more. Keep that in mind as you look after your prosthetic teeth.
About the Practice
Smile Care Family Dentistry is based in Virginia Beach, VA. Thanks to the amazing Dr. Javeed, our practice embodies effective and family-friendly dental care. Patients can count on us for preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments, all tailored to their specific smiles and their needs. We’ll even provide dentures and other devices that can restore your grin. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (757)-498-6420.