Dental Care and Dentures

It is estimated that around 25% of the UK population wear dentures.

It’s a common misconception that once you are wearing dentures your need for regular dental care and good oral hygiene diminishes.

Depending upon the type of dentures you have your needs will vary significantly.

If you wear a full denture i.e. you have no natural teeth remaining, your main concern should be around the health of the soft tissues within your mouth. If dentures are not cared for correctly, are of a poor fit or are worn inappropriately this can lead to a whole host of problems from dry mouth to thrush.

Wearing full dentures does not alleviate your need for regular dental care. Your dentist will no-longer be concerned with gum disease or tooth decay but will continue to monitor your mouth and oral structures for signs of oral cancer and any other abnormalities.

As your dentures age, they may change shape and need adjustments and at some point they may need to be re-made completely. This is down to the natural process of change in your mouth as the bone that once held your teeth in place slowly shrinks away leaving the dentures loose and uncomfortable.

Full dentures should be worn as much as possible during the day to help keep them fitting right but they should always be removed at night.

If you are wearing partial dentures you are at an even higher risk of developing dental diseases such as gum disease and tooth decay. Partial dentures fill in the spaces where teeth have been lost and sit around the teeth that still exist.

This can lead to an accumulation of food particles and plaque between the tooth and the denture which can cause damage to the teeth and gums if it is not regularly removed.

Dentures, like teeth, need to be cared for if they are going to last for any length of time. Remember they are breakable so should be handled with care. Dentures should be cleaned regularly, plaque continues to build-up on dentures and needs to be removed regularly.

If plaque is allowed to build-up on dentures it can affect they way they fit, can cause bad breath and can even put your general health at risk.

Dentures should be rinsed in cold or luke-warm water removing any food particles that have become stuck to your denture, hot water should never be used as this can cause the dentures to warp and become damaged.

Specialized denture cleaning products should be used as conventional tooth care products are not suitable and will cause damage to your dentures. Use a denture cleaner and a denture brush to gently clean your dentures, brush them gently as being too rough will lead to cracks and breakages. Always soak your dentures in a denture cleanser for at least half an hour or overnight if you prefer.

Remember to care for any existing natural teeth with regular brushing and flossing and continue to use a suitable alcohol-free, antibacterial mouthwash to help keep your breath fresh and your mouth healthy. Continue to see your dentist regularly to maximise the life of your dentures and keep your mouth healthy.

The Smile Centre is a UK based independent, private cosmetic dentistry practice with over twenty years of experience in the industry. Our skilful team provide a range of services, including personalised partial and complete dentures, all on 4 dental implants, denture implants and cosmetic dentistry treatments.