You have come to recognize the importance of taking good care of your dentures to keep them looking great and lasting for years to come. You’ve talked to your dentist about proper care before, but one question you haven’t posed is if you could brush your dentures while they are in your mouth.
While you were planning to bring it up at your next appointment, here is some discussion on the idea, as well as further tips for cleaning dentures.
Do I Have to Take My Dentures Out to Brush Them?
The quick answer is you do not have to take them out. If you decide to brush them in your mouth, be sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush without toothpaste. Most brands of toothpaste actually do more harm than good for dentures.
While it’s okay to clean them this way, it’s not ideal since you can conduct a more thorough cleaning if you take them out. In fact, it’s fine to brush your dentures along with your natural teeth but set aside time twice each day where you take your dentures out and focus on thoroughly cleaning them. It’s a much easier and more efficient use of your time to take out your dentures to effectively clean all surfaces.
How Can I Make Sure to Do a Great Job Cleaning My Dentures?
To ensure your dentures function optimally, it’s key to keep them clean. Here are some daily tips:
- Clean your natural teeth with toothpaste. Be sure to take care of them just as well as you try to do for your dentures. Use regular fluoride toothpaste or a variety recommended by your dentist.
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush for cleaning. Whether you take out your dentures or clean them while in your mouth, a soft-bristled brush is the way to go to remove food debris and plaque. Once they are thoroughly cleaned, store them in a cup of fresh, cold water so they retain moisture.
- Use a specialized denture-cleaning paste when you take them out for cleaning. This should be done twice daily, whether or not you are brushing dentures in your mouth along with your natural teeth.
The key in denture care is that you are taking them out twice each day to clean with a specialized denture-cleaning paste for maximum effectiveness. If you want to brush them while they are in your mouth along with your natural teeth at other points in the day, that’s okay to do. Also, follow additional instructions provided by your dentist, and be sure to ask them any questions about your dentures at your next appointment.
About the Author
Dr. Mark Lawton earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. Graduating with honors in research and receiving awards for clinical and operative dentistry, Dr. Lawton participated in an exchange program that allowed him to study dentistry in Japan. His desire to learn remains strong to this day, as he is an active member of the Spear Study Club to meet monthly with dozens of colleagues and specialists to study advancements in dentistry and complicated cases. When it comes to dentures, Dr. Lawton offers removable full and partial dentures, or he can anchor them into place with dental implants. For a consultation, visit his website or call (281) 447-2186.