When you first get dentures, you’ll probably spend a lot of time reveling in the brand-new smile they’ve given you. The confidence and utility that this single prosthetic can afford you is absolutely stunning—that being the case, you might wonder what you can do to protect them.
Learning to care for your dentures will take some time, but it should be fairly simple once you’re used to it. For example, you might wonder how you should brush your braces, and whether you can do so while they’re in your mouth. Here’s what you ought to know.
Can I Brush My Dentures While They’re in My Mouth?
The answer is that you can, but doing this exclusively isn’t going to be enough to fully disinfect your prosthetic. While it’s certainly important to clean along the false teeth on your dentures, these are far from the only part of your prosthetic that needs routine cleaning; it’s also important scrub your gums and the area underneath your dentures as well.
How to Properly Clean Your Dentures
If you want your prosthetic to stay as clean as possible, there are a few things to keep in mind. The first is that you do need to take off your dentures in order to brush them; you should scrub each area of your mouth, as well as the top and bottom of your prosthetic.
When you brush, it’s recommended that you do so without toothpaste, as these contain abrasives that can scratch your prosthetic.
If you want to fully clean your prosthetic, you also need to let it soak in an antibacterial denture solution. It’s best to do this overnight while you’re sleeping, as this will also give your gums a break from holding your prosthetic in your mouth.
The Potential of Implant Dentures
That said, if you’re deeply attached to the idea of being able to brush your prosthetic while it’s in your mouth, implant dentures can afford this to you. These involve attaching your prosthetic to thin metal posts surgically implanted into the jaw.
Implant dentures are designed to be irremovable, which means that you should be able to clean them without needing to take them out. It’d be worth talking to your dentist about whether this is an option for you.
About Our Practice
At Flenniken Family Dentistry, we believe that our patients being knowledgeable is one of the most important components to keeping them healthy. That’s why we do so much more than just treat our patients’ teeth—we form strong personal relationships with them and help them to evaluate what they need to get their smile into the best condition possible.
If you have any questions about dentures, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (717) 249-7777.
