DENTURE CARE INSTRUCTIONS
What to expect with your New Dentures
- Your first few weeks. New partial dentures always feel strange when first placed in your mouth. Several days or even few weeks will be required for you to feel accustomed to them.
- Sore spots. Your mouth will most likely develop a few sore spots within the first week of wearing your partial denture. This is to be expected and such sore spots can be easily relieved by your doctor. Review appointments will be made to adjust your denture as required.
- Chewing. Your new “Bite” may feel uncomfortable for a period of days. We may need to adjust the contacting surfaces of your teeth after the partial dentures have settled into place.
- Speaking. May sound different, we suggest reading out aloud to practice speaking with your new dentures, your tongue will retrain itself.
How to Clean your New Dentures
* Remove and rinse dentures after eating. Run water over your dentures to remove food debris and other loose particles. You may want to place a towel on the counter or in the sink or put some water in the sink so the dentures won’t break if you drop them.
* Handle your dentures carefully. Be sure you don’t bend or damage the plastic or the clasps when cleaning.
* Clean your mouth after removing your dentures. Use a soft bristled toothbrush on natural teeth and gauze or a soft toothbrush to clean your tongue, cheeks and roof of your mouth (palate).
* Brush your dentures at least daily. Gently clean dentures daily by soaking and brushing with a nonabrasive denture cleanser to remove food, plaque and other deposits. If you use denture adhesive, clean the grooves that fit against you gums to remove and remaining adhesive.
* Overnight. You should remove dentures before going to bed each night. This gives your mouth a chance to rest and will help stop you grinding your teeth while you sleep.
* Rinse dentures before putting back in your mouth, especially if using a denture soaking solution. These solutions can contain harmful chemicals that cause vomiting, pain or burns if swallowed.
* Maintenance. If you find that your denture has a build-up (Tartar or Calculus), soak in white vinegar (1part) and water (4 parts). If you still can’t remove the build-up call your dentist for an appointment to have your denture cleaned and polished.
* Abrasive cleaning materials. Avoid stiff-bristled brushes, strong cleanser and harsh toothpaste, as these are too abrasive and can damage your dentures.
* Hot water. Avoid hot or boiling water that could warp your dentures.
