Do I Really Need to Remove My Dentures?

You lead a busy life, so naturally it’s important to save time on daily tasks wherever you can. Whether it’s using the ATM instead of going into the bank, paying bills online, or getting your morning coffee at the drive-through, every moment you don’t spend on chores can be used for something more enjoyable later.

When it comes to caring for your dentures, however, you may have heard that cutting corners when cleaning them can give you a few extra minutes a day. But while this is true, it’s unfortunately not a good idea. Here’s why you should always take the time to remove and properly clean your dentures, no matter how busy your day gets!

Why Do I Need to Remove My Dentures?

Your dentures are an important tool that allows you to eat and speak properly and smile without embarrassment. So, it’s no mystery why you’d want to keep wearing them all day. But the truth is, your mouth needs a break from wearing them so your gums can absorb important nutrients. Furthermore, constant wear can cause accelerated jawbone deterioration, something that could require a bone graft to correct in the future.

Cleaning Your Dentures

Another important reason you should remove your dentures is to properly clean them. While you can spot clean them in your mouth when you’re out and about, it is very important that you remove them completely to deep clean them at least once a day (at bedtime) but preferably twice a day if you have time. This is to ensure that you remove all plaque and food debris, which can cause them to look and smell bad. Worse yet, dirty dentures can harbor excessive amounts of oral bacteria and can even cause pneumonia!

Once they have had their nightly cleaning, be sure to keep them submerged in water or denture soak overnight so they don’t dry out.

Denture Alternatives

Taking out your dentures to clean and soak them can be tedious and time consuming. Thankfully, there are alternative restorations that may help. Dental implants are a permanent way to replace lost teeth, and they never need to be removed for cleaning. Best of all, because they are attached to your jawbone, they provide important stimulation that keeps your bones, gums, and any remaining teeth strong and healthy, so you needn’t worry about the deterioration that is so common with dentures.

Remember, while you may be inclined to keep your dentures in your mouth as much as possible, removing them for cleaning and sleeping is vitally important to your oral health. If you’re looking for ways to save time caring for your restorations, speak to your dentist today about the many benefits of durable, permanent dental implants!

About Our Practice

At Peery & Woolwine Family Dentistry, you benefit from not just one but four talented and caring dentists. Our team is proud to help patients of all ages smile, whether they have all their natural teeth, are missing a few, or have a full set of dentures.

Caring for your dentures is an important way to protect not just your prosthetics, but also your oral and overall health. If you’d like to learn more about dentures, schedule a denture check-up, or discuss the benefits of dental implants, please schedule an appointment with us today on our website, or by calling 434-847-5331.