Denture Care

Getting used to your new dentures - For the first few weeks your new dentures may feel bulky and odd. However you will eventually become used to them. Inserting and removing the dentures will need some practice.

Denture wear - You can wear the dentures during the day, taking them out only to clean after meals. However, they should be removed before going to bed ( store them in a container with water ). This allows the gums to rest and promotes oral health.

Discomfort - Most people manage to adapt well to new dentures irrespective of any denture experience. However, you may have sore spots 24-48hrs after initial wear. You may need an additional appointment to ease these areas to improve the fit. The sore spots may take up to a week to heal after that. If you cannot see your dentist immediately, it might be wise to reduce or stop denture wear until 2-3days before the review appointment.

Eating with you new denture – Start with soft foods and gradually progress onto more solid food. You may need to cut your food into small portions and chew using both sides of your mouth to prevent the dentures tipping. Avoid biting with your front teeth (like biting into an apple) as this will cause tipping at the back end of the dentures.

Speaking with your new dentures – Your speech may be altered initially and pronouncing certain words will require practise. However, your speech should be back to normal within a week. To speed this process, reading out from a newspaper or magazine should help. Following use of your new dentures you may experience excess salivation for a few days.

Cleaning your dentures – Daily cleaning of your denture is essential to prevent build-up of food debris, stains and calculus. These can cause problems with appearance, mouth odour, irritation to gums and infections. Brushing • Use a soft toothbrush or denture brush to clean your denture, along with soap and warm running water. Avoid using abrasive toothpaste as this can scratch the denture, which can make it more prone to collect debris, stains and tartar. • Dentures can break, so always clean your dentures over the sink/bowl of water, just in case they slip out of your hands by accident. • Brush or rinse the denture after every meal to prevent the build up of debris. Soaking • You can use denture cleaning tablets or solutions for soaking, to help loosen and remove stains and deposits. However, you should avoid leaving the dentures in the solution overnight. A 10-minute soak once or twice a week should be sufficient. • Do not soak if you have a metal denture as it can damage the metal. They can be effectively cleaned with a soft brush and warm soap water. Avoid soaking if your denture has a soft lining as some products could damage the lining. They can also be cleaned by brushing.

Care of your mouth - With partial dentures, you must take extra care of your teeth and gums. Even with full dentures, you still need to take good care of your mouth. Brush your gums, tongue and palate with a soft brush twice a day. This helps to remove plaque and improves the general health of your mouth.

If you have any questions or concerns please ring the practice on 0117 973 3308 or speak to your dentist at your next scheduled visit.