Your new dentures are a great way to restore the appearance and function of your smile. While you may want to keep them in round-the-clock to keep enjoying their many benefits, it’s very important that you remove them each night and allow them to soak. Though this may seem unnecessary, it serves a variety of purposes. Here’s why it’s so important to take your dentures out and keep them hydrated while you sleep.
Dentures Have Pores
Though they may look solid, the base of your dentures is full of tons of tiny pores that can absorb saliva and bacteria. This helps them stay pliable when in use, but it can make them difficult to completely clean with regular brushing alone.
Soaking them overnight allows water to permeate those pores, keeping them clean and preventing them from harboring bacteria and odors. In fact, soaking overnight can kill up to 99.9 percent of germs!
Dry Mouth Dangers
As you age you may be more likely to experience dry mouth. This can also be caused by a variety of prescription and OTC medications. Dry mouth can not only increase bacteria levels in your mouth, but it can also cause your dentures to dry out faster. A denture that is dehydrated can easily crack or warp, causing irreparable damage or a bad fit.
How to Soak Your Dentures
Whether you choose to soak your dentures in a cup of plain water, or you’d prefer to add a denture soak to the water is entirely up to you. If you are cleaning your prosthetics properly, you shouldn’t need to add a product to the water, however it can provide an additional level of cleanliness to them. At a bare minimum, however, you should brush and floss them thoroughly each night and then leave them soaking in water until you’re ready to wear them again in the morning. Furthermore, be sure to brush them after each meal during the day by completely removing them. You can also touch them up while they’re still in your mouth, however this does not replace a complete cleaning.
Remember, your dentures need to stay hydrated even when they’re not in your mouth. Whether you choose to use a denture soak or plain water is up to you, as long as you are keeping them soaking overnight and when not in your mouth.
About Dr. Fisher
Dr. David M. Fisher, Jr. has a passion for aesthetic dentistry, including restoring your beautiful smile with the help of dentures. If you are missing one or more permanent teeth and would like to bring back that gorgeous grin you once had, dentures offer a durable, natural-looking solution that fits a variety of budgets.
To learn more about if you qualify for this treatment, please schedule an appointment on our website or call us today at 336-288-1242.