Efficient care can ensure full or partial denture sets last their entire lifespan and retain their glossy appearance. Daily cleaning of upper and lower dentures combined with routine dental checkups can prevent damage, ensure optimal oral hygiene and a proper fit. Learn how to identify the difference between tartar and plaque buildup on dentures along with proper care tips for a healthy and clean mouth.
Identifying Dental Plaque and Tartar
Plaque is a sticky, colorless, soft film that forms on denture surfaces and teeth in the mouth and as we eat, particularly when sugary sweets are consumed. When left untreated, plaque bacteria can cause gum irritation and mouth discomfort and can lead to bad breath, gum disease, and dental decay. Dental plaque can calcify and develop into tartar, often identified as a hard, rough layered accumulation on a dental surface, with a tan or beige color. Tartar buildup can cause denture stains and discoloration if a daily denture cleaning and care routine is not established regularly, particularly with older dentures.
Optimize Oral Health
Dentures must be removed and cleaned daily to give the gums time to rest and prevent bacterial growth. Proper care paired with a daily oral hygiene routine can prevent plaque build-up and tartar from forming on dentures, protecting gum tissue from being irritated, inflamed, or infected. It is particularly important for people who wear partial dentures to care for existing teeth with a thorough daily dental cleaning routine.
Daily Denture Cleaning and Care
The Oral Health Foundation recommends removing dentures and gently flossing between and brushing natural teeth, gums, tongue, cheeks, and roof of the mouth with a denture toothbrush to remove plaque and stimulate blood circulation in mouth tissue to prevent gum disease. A washcloth can also be used to gently remove plaque from sensitive gum areas. Check that the dental cleaning products being used are specifically formulated for either partials or full dentures and look for the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. Brush using a non-abrasive denture-specific cleansing toothpaste on a wet denture toothbrush, starting from the back of the denture and moving toward the front, brushing every interior and exterior surface of each side with a forward and backward motion to remove stuck-on debris, while special attention to the areas of the denture that hit the gums.
Rinse and Soak
If using denture fixative, gargle with warm water prior to removing dentures to help loosen the seal, then clean the grooves that fit against gums to remove any residual adhesive. After thoroughly brushing dentures, rinse under running warm water to loosen any stuck-on food debris. To prevent drying or cracking, while retaining a comfortable fit, store dentures in either cool water or a mild denture-soaking solution. After an overnight soak, repeat a morning brushing/rinsing routine with natural teeth, then rinse dentures thoroughly under warm running to clean away the denture-soaking solution. To prevent plaque bacteria buildup, always clean dentures and your denture storage case between uses, and remove and rinse after eating to wash away any stuck-on food debris lingering in the mouth or on dentures.
Find the Perfect Smile
Our dentures are custom-designed for each individual, taking into consideration not only the proper size and shape of teeth but also face contours and natural tissue. Three Rivers Dental is the proud provider of Comfy Fit Premium, Flexi Fit Partial Dentures, and Snap Fit Dentures, crafted with high-quality materials to ensure a natural look and comfortable fit. We offer a wide range of affordable full and partial denture options in 8 great styles. Whether a first-time denture wearer or in need of replacement, we help patients design their perfect smile
From routine dental cleanings, gum therapy, periodontitis services, nerve treatment, and extractions to dentures, partials, and dental implants, we offer professional dental services in a relaxing, stress-free environment with a variety of soothing sedation dentistry options available for the best dental care. Contact Three Rivers Dental Group by calling 1-855-NO FEARS or request an appointment online for an oral health checkup and cleaning. We are conveniently located throughout the Pittsburgh area in Cranberry, Greentree, Greensburg, and Jennerstown.