There is no rule against brushing your dentures without removing them. Doing so is unlikely to cause any harm as long as you use a very soft-bristled brush and avoid abrasive cleaning agents.
Brush your dentures at least daily.
Soak and brush them with a soft-bristled brush and nonabrasive denture cleanser to remove food, plaque and other deposits. If you use denture adhesive, clean the grooves that fit against your gums to remove any remaining adhesive. Don't use denture cleansers inside your mouth.
Even if you wear full dentures, you still have to practice good dental hygiene. Brush your gums, tongue and roof of your mouth every morning with a soft-bristled brush before you insert your dentures to stimulate circulation in your tissues and help remove plaque.
According to statistics, full dentures last anywhere between 5 and 10 years, while partials have a maximum longevity of 15 years. During this time frame, both your mouth and your dentures can undergo major changes, resulting in an improper fit and unappealing appearance.
It can take a few weeks to adjust to dentures, but once your mouth is strong, you can eat just about any food. There will always be some foods that aren't denture-friendly, like chewing gum, popcorn, whole nuts, steak, and sticky candy.
Generally you should wear your dentures for at least 8 hours a day. This will give your gums and jawbone time to get used to the dentures and prevent sore spots from developing. It is best to take them out at night so that your gums can rest. You should also remove them for eating, drinking, brushing and flossing.
Second, it can stimulate saliva production, and since many people with dentures struggle with dry mouth, this can be important. However, chewing gum with dentures presents a serious problem. If the gum sticks to dentures, it will pull them, and pulling them out is the easiest way to dislodge them.
Bone loss – Wearing dentures during the day protects your jawbone, while wearing them at night actually accelerates the natural process of bone loss. This means you're likely to have loose, ill-fitting dentures and changes in your facial appearance faster than you would otherwise.
You should generally try to keep dentures in water when you are not wearing them. However, if you don't have a cup of water to store them in, they will be fine for a few days without being stored in water.
The shape of most types of dentures is maintained by keeping them moist. Dentures can be soaked overnight in water or a mild denture-soaking solution.
Toothpaste is not intended to be used for denture cleaning and as a result can actually be harmful to your dentures. Opt for a denture cleanser and brush instead.
Polident Dentu-Creme
The toothpaste is safe for metals, so it can be used on dentures and partials. This product is specially formulated to clean dentures and partials outside of the mouth. Clean over a sink half-filled with water and a soft-bristled brush to prevent damage if dropped.
In most cases, you won't be able to tell that someone is wearing dentures if you have well-fitting dentures that are professionally made, are regularly cleaned, and fit well.
Soft tissues beneath dentures can also become easily irritated by wearing dentures continually (24 hours a day). You should refrain from wearing dentures at night as this gives the skin a chance to recover from wearing them during the day.
You can use proprietary denture cleaning tablets or solutions ( eg. Steradent) to help loosen and remove stains and deposits. However, you should avoid leaving the dentures in the solution overnight. A 10-minute soak once or twice a week should be sufficient.
You may begin taking liquids or soft foods almost immediately. Most people progress slowly to a regular diet. This will generally take 10 days to several weeks depending upon your ability to tolerate the new denture, as well as the discomfort that you may experience when chewing with your new teeth.
As a general rule of thumb, dental professionals are likely to tell you that adjusting to new dentures takes about 30 days, on average. You might not be keen to wait this long, but you need to be careful how quickly you try to get back to normal.
Give yourself at least 7 to 14 days to get used to wearing the dentures before progressing to more solid foods such as well-cooked meats and vegetables, eggs, spaghetti, and baked fish. Most people tend to chew more on one side of their mouth than the other.
Many people who wear dentures struggle with sticky foods, such as chewing gum. If you are worried about your dentures slipping, swapping your chewing gum habit for no-sugar breath mints is a good way to keep dentures securely in place. You can also use mouthwash after meals to freshen breath as an alternative to gum.
Using Polident 3 Minute Daily Cleanser
Drop one tablet in enough very warm water (not hot) to cover the dentures. Soak for 3 minutes or overnight.
Dental implants are permanent teeth replacements, and they've become a popular alternative to dentures over the past few years. While they cost more than dentures, they last longer and save you money over time. Dental implants lead to fewer visits to the dentist because they're easier to maintain compared to dentures.