Denture Care

Dentures are an essential solution for those who have lost some or all of their natural teeth, offering a way to restore both functionality and confidence in your smile. However, maintaining dentures requires special care to ensure they stay in optimal condition and provide long-lasting comfort. By giving you some of our favorite recommended practices for denture care, we can help you keep them clean, functional, and comfortable for daily use. 

Whether you’re new to dentures or have had them for years, following these tips will help extend their lifespan and keep your smile healthy. And when you work closely with your dentist to find the best solution for you, you can boost your confidence and quality of life. Please reach out to us at VI Dental Center for more information about practicing excellent hygiene and keeping your dental health at its best.

Our Tips and Recommendations for Long-Lasting Dentures

We have several tips and tricks to help you keep your dentures comfortable and functional for many years. When you’re taking care of and cleaning your dentures, please keep the following in mind:

• Do not attempt to adjust your dentures yourself. Only an experienced dentist is qualified to diagnose your oral health and adjust your complete denture or partial.
• Dentures should be brushed on the inside and outside daily. Use a soft, large nylon denture toothbrush with round-ended bristles.
• Use denture creams instead of toothpaste, which may be too abrasive and scratch your denture. Rinse with cold water.
• Dentures warp if placed in hot water.
• Inspect your denture regularly for signs of damage or wear.
• Worn-out and stained or discolored dentures can make you look older, but they can also cause your dentures to function poorly. Have your dentures examined by a dental professional whenever you have questions.
• Be sure to discuss all up-to-date medications with your doctor and dental professional.
• Visit your dental professional regularly, approximately two to four times each year.
• Have your loose or loosening dentures checked immediately, as they can cause damage, discomfort, and pressure on the gum tissue and jawbone.
• When you’re asleep or not using them, soak your dentures with water or a denture-cleaning solution to prevent them from losing their appropriate shape or drying out.
• Most dental insurance policies provide coverage for new dentures every five years.

If you need any additional recommendations for caring for your dentures, please contact our team at VI Dental Center. We are more than happy to answer your questions, provide helpful resources, and offer additional guidance whenever needed.

What Are the Best Practices for Storing Dentures When Not in Use?

We recommend removing your dentures whenever you go to sleep. Before storing them, you should brush them thoroughly but gently with a soft-bristled nylon toothbrush and non-abrasive cleanser. If you use an adhesive to keep your dentures in place, remove any bits remaining in the grooves and the underside.

Following cleaning, we suggest soaking your dentures. By soaking your dentures regularly, they can stay moist and maintain their shape. Most individuals will use tap or distilled water. However, regularly using a denture cleaning solution can help them get even cleaner and maintain their function.

Different manufacturers will have varying recommendations for cleaning their dentures, so we recommend you speak with your dentist for more specific information. Your dentist can give you product suggestions and how frequently you should use a given item.

We also suggest refraining from using products not recommended by your dentist. If your dentist says there is a likely contraindication or risk with using something in particular, you should not use it. 

Why Choose VI Dental Center for Your Denture Care?

At VI Dental Center, we are committed to helping you maintain your dentures and ensuring your dental health remains at its best. Our team in the Virgin Islands has been serving the community for over 15 years, providing high-quality care tailored to each patient’s needs. Whether you’re dealing with new dentures or need help with existing ones, our experienced professionals are here to offer personalized guidance on the best practices for denture care.  

We understand how important it is to keep your dentures functional, comfortable, and aesthetically pleasing, so we are here to help you care for them properly. We can tell you whether you would benefit from dentures supported by dental implants, if you need a complete or partial denture, or if another solution would be better for your lifestyle. To learn more, call us at (340) 776-6056 to reach our St. Thomas location, reach out at (340) 772-6000 for our St. Croix office, or fill out our contact form.