What to Know About Dentures

Dentures are removable prosthetics that can restore your dental function and appearance. If you’ve lost all of your natural teeth – from tooth decay, gum disease, or other dental problems- dentures can help restore your ability to properly eat and speak. However, they require proper maintenance to stay clean and keep your mouth free from germs. When it comes to taking care of your dentures, there are some things you should know.

Acrylic Dentures Have Surface Pores

To the naked eye, your dentures may look solid, but a closer look under a microscope will reveal that they’re covered in tiny pores. This means that bacteria can get into them and end up in your mouth. You may be thinking, “So what? Everyone has germs in their mouths.” Yes, our bodies are designed to fight certain germs, but they don’t have the capabilities to fight the garden-variety germs found on dentures.

Overnight Soaking Can Kill 99.9% of Dentures Germs

Keeping your dentures clean is of the utmost importance when it comes to protecting your mouth from germs. Since your dentures can collect tons of bacteria, a quick brushing or a five-minute rinse isn’t enough to fully clean them. Soak your dentures overnight to kill almost all of the bacteria on them. If you still want to do a five-minute soak during the day, try it to quickly freshen up before you go out.

Dry Mouth Can Pose Health Risks to Denture Wearers

On average, people over the age of 65 take two to three medications a day, which increases their chances of suffering from dry mouth. When you produce less saliva, your mouth isn’t able to fight bacteria as well. Those suffering from dry mouth need to clean their dentures extra carefully so they get rid of built up bacteria.

Your dentist can teach you how to properly clean your dentures to protect them and your mouth. If you’re in the Batavia, IL area, Ron Murphy Dentistry can fit you for dentures, as well as take care of any other cosmetic dentistry needs you have. We treat each of our patients with personalized, professional care so everyone walks out of our office with a clean, bright smile. Call us today to schedule your next dental appointment: 630-879-7642.