Adjusting to New Dentures: Your New Nightly Routine for Denture Care

When adjusting to new dentures, a patient will likely have a long list of questions. Can dentures be slept in? How does wearing dentures change a person's oral hygiene routine? Here you will find the answers to these and more information about a nightly care routine for those who are adjusting to new dentures.

Getting ready for bed

When adjusting to new dentures, it is important to remember a few vital rules of wearing them. Firstly, they should always be taken out before bed. This allows the jaw to relax after holding them in place all day and can help prevent soreness in the mouth. Secondly, dentures should be kept moist to keep them working properly and help them last as long as possible. This means that they should be stored in a liquid, either water or a gentle cleaning solution, while the patient sleeps.

Cleaning dentures

Part of a nightly care routine that is important to remember when adjusting to new dentures is to clean them before putting them away at night. Dentures should be regularly cleaned, especially after eating, and a nighttime cleaning is a good way to ensure that everything is good to go at the end of the day. To properly clean dentures, they should be removed from the mouth and washed in the sink or a bowl of water. A soft brush and denture cleaning solution can be used to gently remove any debris.

When cleaning dentures be mindful that they can be easy to damage. Avoid scrubbing too hard or bending anything out of shape. Dentures can break easily if dropped, so consider cleaning them over a table or countertop to minimize the risk of them falling long distances.

Oral hygiene

Something that can be easy to forget while adjusting to new dentures is to continue to care for your oral hygiene. Even though a patient may no longer have teeth to brush, it can still be important to keep the mouth clean with nightly brushing. To avoid irritating the gums, a soft brush should be used. Focus on cleaning the tongue, cheeks, and the roof of the mouth, being gentle around the places where teeth used to be.

Long-term care

When properly cared for, dentures have the potential to last for several years without needing to be replaced. This is most likely to be the case when a patient who is adjusting to new dentures makes sure to clean them and store them properly every night. Additionally, dentures should be rinsed off thoroughly before putting them in the mouth in the morning and after eating. Regular appointments with a dentist are important for ensuring that no serious problems are occurring and that the rest of the mouth is healthy.