Caring for False Teeth

Although false teeth, or dentures, may not be real teeth, they still need to be properly cared for in order to keep stains and bacteria from building up. Properly handling and storing your dentures can also help to keep them from getting damaged.

Here are a few tips you can use to help you take the best care of your false teeth:

• Rinse dentures after every meal.
• Your dentures need to be cleaned every day. This removes food debris and retards plaque buildup. Everyday cleaning also helps to keep permanent stains from forming on them.
• When cleaning dentures, use a soft brush. Hard-bristle brushes can slowly damage the plastic or porcelain material the dentures are made out of, and cause them to wear away sooner than expected.
• Hand soap or mild detergent can be used to clean dentures. Avoid using toothpaste unless it is especially designed for cleaning dentures, as most toothpastes have an abrasive component.
• You may decide to invest in an ultrasonic denture cleaner. Designed like a small bathtub, these special cleaners use sound waves to great a wave action that removes minute particles from your false teeth. Ultrasonic denture cleaners should not be used to replace brushing, however.
• When not being worn, immerse the denture in water or a special soaking solution. This is to keep the denture moist and keep it from warping. Do not, however, put dentures in hot water.