What Is the Proper Way to Care for Dentures?

Getting dentures can be one of the most rewarding experiences for a person who's missing most or all of their teeth. With dentures, these patients can smile, laugh, speak, eat, and socialize with the comfort and confidence they deserve. One of the most common questions patients have about getting these life-changing restorations is how to clean dentures and care for their new smiles. The answer will depend on a few different factors, including which type of dentures they have, their other oral health considerations, and more.

Fortunately, caring for some types of dentures — like implant-supported overdentures — can be as simple as sticking to your usual dental hygiene routine of brushing, flossing, and rinsing. Removable dentures that are held in place with adhesives require a few additional steps, like cleaning after meals and soaking overnight. Still, patients find that the care required with dentures is worth the opportunity to enjoy a complete, beautiful, and functional smile. Here, dental prosthodontist Dr. Harshit Aggarwal and our caring team at Center for Dentofacial Aesthetics in Annandale, VA share important guidelines for denture care.

Are all dentures removable?

If you're like many people, the first thing that comes to mind when you think of dentures may be the removable false teeth seen by a person's bedside in many films and even cartoons. While removable dentures are still widely used today, advancements in modern restorative dentistry and technology make these dentures more secure, natural-looking, and convenient than ever.

Still, we understand that some patients may prefer a more lasting solution to replace missing teeth, and we are proud to offer implant-supported overdentures. Instead of being held in place by adhesives, overdentures are dentures affixed to surgically inserted dental implants. Even implant-supported dentures can be designed to be removable, however, allowing us to meet a wide range of unique patient needs and preferences.

Do you brush dentures like normal teeth?

Many people are surprised to learn that caring for dentures isn't as complicated as they may imagine. For fixed dentures — or overdentures — daily care involves brushing, flossing, and rinsing just as you would with natural teeth, though some extra attention may be needed around the gumline where the dentures meet the gum tissue. For removable dentures, we typically recommend cleaning the dentures with a soft brush after each meal and soaking dentures in water overnight, which helps prevent them from drying out.

Following placement of your dentures, Dr. Aggarwal will review appropriate denture care instructions in detail based on the kind of dentures you have and other individual variables to ensure you are well prepared and comfortable caring for your newly enhanced smile.

Is there anything I can't eat with dentures?

While one of the most exciting benefits of getting dentures is being able to eat normally again, for the most part, there are still some important considerations for eating with dentures, including:

• Start with a soft diet and room-temperature foods and beverages as you're getting used to dentures
• Avoid hard, chewy, or overly sticky foods and candies when possible
• Cut larger, difficult-to-bite foods into smaller pieces and eat with a knife and fork when possible
• Rinse, brush, or clean dentures after eating/drinking staining foods and beverages
• Do not chew ice, bite fingernails, or use your dentures/teeth as tools

With proper dental hygiene and oral health habits, you can keep your dentures strong, intact, and beautiful for years or decades to come.

Get a strong, stunning smile with dentures in Annandale, VA

If you are missing most or all of your teeth, or facing replacement of the majority of your teeth, you may be interested in the many benefits of dentures. At Center for Dentofacial Aesthetics, experienced prosthodontist and dentures specialist in Annandale, VA, Dr. Harshit Aggarwal helps patients regain a complete, functional, and Hollywood-worthy smile with a comprehensive selection of dental restorations, including dentures and overdentures. Start learning more about your options for dentures, as well as how simple denture upkeep can be, by contacting us to schedule your private consultation.