Your dentures can last for a long time if you take care of them. You should consider denture maintenance and care a necessity if you want your dentures to last for decades. However, you should also show care with your dentures for your own health.

The Dangers of Dirty Dentures

Your dentures can hold a lot of bacteria. You use them in your mouth, and your mouth collects tons of bacteria from food and drink. You also take them out of your mouth, and that's when things can become extra dangerous.

Just taking them out and sitting them down will allow them to collect any bacteria around. When you put them back into your mouth, you introduce all that foreign bacteria into your body. You can become sick with infections and other illnesses. That's why you must clean your dentures daily:

• Brush your dentures with a soft bristled toothbrush
• Rinse your dentures with warm water after every meal
• Rinse your dentures with warm water before putting them in your mouth

When your dentures aren't in your mouth, you should have them soaking in a denture cleaner or in water. You should do this overnight as well, since you shouldn't have your dentures in your mouth when you're sleeping.

The Dangers of Sleeping with Your Dentures In

When you sleep with your dentures in, they will soak your gums and teeth with any accumulated bacteria they've collected. In addition, they will add pressure to your gums and teeth that can cause gum inflammation.

When you sleep with dentures in, you also run the risk of breathing in certain bacteria that can cause illnesses such as pneumonia. So make sure you take your dentures out before bed, or even a nap.

If you've spent any time sleeping with your dentures in, make sure you go in for a denture checkup with your dentist. Sleeping with dentures in can warp them over time and make them loose or uncomfortable. Besides, you should have regular checkups anyway.

The Dangers of Not Having a Regular Denture Checkup

Bad denture habits can lead to dentures not working for you as they should. That in turn can lead to surprise health issues. For example, if your dentures start to feel uncomfortable, but you continue to use them, it can change how you eat. You can develop mouth sores, swollen gums, and other difficulties that make eating normally a chore you avoid.

You should always speak to your dentist about denture discomfort. You should go in for routine checkups on your dentures right along with your normal routine dental checkups. Your dentist can spot problems with your dentures before they become dangerous to you.