How To Store Your Dentures Overnight

The importance of denture care

Your dentures may seem like  they are made of sturdy stuff, but like any other prosthetic, they need to be looked after well to ensure you don’t run into any problems. Taking care of your dentures is crucial for maintaining their condition and ensuring your oral health. If you wear, clean and store your dentures properly, you can prevent your dentures from drying out, losing shape or becoming increasingly uncomfortable to wear. Storing them correctly overnight is a key part of this care. Dentures that haven’t been cleaned or stored right well usually become a prime target for bacteria to breed and will need replacement.

How to store your dentures properly

Unless our dentists recommend otherwise, you should generally remove your dentures and brush them at the end of each day.

• Use a soft-bristled denture brush or a soft toothbrush to gently brush your dentures. Avoid regular toothpaste as it can be too abrasive. Instead, use a mild dish soap or denture cleaner.
• Store your dentures in a denture cleaning solution, made of water and a commercial denture soaking solution. The solution keeps them moist, preventing them from drying out and losing their shape. If your dentures have any stains or build-up, this will further help them. Opting for a denture cleaning solution helps reduce the risk of bacteria breeding and also prevents any unpleasant odours as well.
• Place the denture container in a safe, stable area where it won’t be knocked over. A bedside table or bathroom counter works well.
• If you have pets or small children, make sure the container is stored out of their reach to avoid accidental damage or ingestion.
• Make sure you rinse out your dentures in clean water before wearing them in the morning to avoid ingesting any residue of the solution and causing irritation.
  

Additional Tips

• Avoid Drying Out: Never let your dentures dry out. Always store them in water or a denture-soaking solution when not in use to retain moisture.
• Handle with Care: Dentures are delicate. Handle them over a soft surface or a folded towel to cushion any accidental drops.
• Regular Check-ups: Visit the dentist regularly to check the fit and condition of your dentures. Ill-fitting dentures can cause discomfort and further oral health issues.

What to avoid when storing your dentures

If you wear your dentures overnight, this will lead to an increase in bacteria and plaque so avoid this by carrying out proper storage. If you use clean water or denture cleaning tablets that need to be soaked in water, make sure the water you use isn’t hot as this can warp your dentures! Anything you expose your dentures to should be in the right temperatures and non-toxic conditions. Some other things that can damage your dentures are hard brushes, abrasive toothpastes and whitening products. Dentures are not meant to be whitened using external products or treatments without your dentist’s prior approval.

Your denture cleaning routine each night will only take you a couple of minutes at most! But these few minutes are vital to ensuring that your dentures are kept hygienic and comfortable for you to wear. Got any questions and looking for the right dentist to get your dentures? Have any other questions? Contact our expert dental staff at Melton Dental and we’ll make sure all your questions are answered!