Dentures do require regular maintenance and they must be kept clean and fresh. This ensures they remain comfortable to wear and are hygienic. It’s important to regularly clean your denture using a soft denture brush and a proper denture cleaner or dish soap at least once a day. Do not use an ordinary toothbrush and toothpaste because these are too abrasive and may damage the acrylic. Once your denture is thoroughly clean, use a denture soaking solution to keep it fresh overnight. If you have a partial denture, brush your natural teeth as normal and use a separate brush to clean your denture.

Leaving your denture out overnight gives you gums a chance to rest and lowers the risk of fungal infections. If you have a partial denture, leaving your denture out at night helps protect the remaining teeth against decay.

Our dentists will regularly check the fit of your dentures because over time the shape of your jawbone will gradually change which can result in the denture becoming loose and ill fitting. An ill fitting denture is not only uncomfortable, it can increase the chance of fungal infection and trauma to the gum tissue. In the case of partial dentures, an ill fitting denture will place additional strain on the remaining supporting teeth, increasing the chance of damage on the remaining teeth.

If your denture is ill fitting, it may need relining or rebasing to create a better and more comfortable fit. However, there are circumstances where a new denture would be more suitable especially if your denture is more than 5 years old. Call us to see how we can help.