3 minute read

Just like natural teeth, dentures need daily care to keep them looking their best, prevent decay and gum disease from developing and banish bad breath.

Whether you’ve replaced all of your teeth with dentures or you still have most of your natural teeth, your dentist can recommend the best denture products and practices to help maintain your smile and your oral health.

Here are our picks for the best denture care products in Australia and recommendations for when you should see a professional.

Best denture adhesive

Dental adhesive helps to hold dentures in place and may help to prevent them from slipping, shifting or making sounds when you eat or talk. This is more common with lower dentures as they are prone to less suction than upper dentures.

Adhesive is not usually necessary when your dentures are custom made by an experienced denture prosthetist or if you have implant-retained dentures which are firmly secured in place, but they may be helpful for less well-fitted dentures.

Some good dental adhesives include:

• Dentex Secure® Waterproof Denture Adhesive – non-soluble, flavourless and zinc-free, this adhesive can hold for up to 12 hours and won’t deteriorate when you drink water.
• Super Poligrip® Free Denture Adhesive Cream – another zinc-free option that offers an all-day hold while keeping out food particles and controlling denture odours.
• Fixodent® Extra Hold – adhesive powder that offers an all-day hold for full dentures and partial dentures.

If your dentures continue to cause problems or feel painful after using adhesives, you should talk to your dentist, as they may need to be relined or replaced.

Best denture cleaner

Dentures should be brushed and cleaned every day to help prevent the build-up of plaque, reduce stains and extend their lifespan.

There is a plethora of denture cleaning products on the market, it can be difficult to know what’s best for you. You may be surprised to learn that the best product for cleaning dentures – as recommended by our in-house denture prosthetist – is ordinary soap (hand wash from a pump bottle).

Dentures should not be cleaned using normal fluoride toothpaste intended for teeth, as these may contain abrasive elements that can damage denture materials. Be sure to thoroughly brush dentures with a toothbrush or denture brush before soaking them in water overnight.

Best denture toothbrush

Daily brushing with ordinary soap helps to remove leftover food and plaque from dentures that may lead to bad breath and gum disease.

You can clean dentures using a standard manual toothbrush with soft bristles, or you can opt for a specially designed denture toothbrush. These include:

• Oral-B® Denture Brush Dual Head – featuring two different sized brush heads with differently angled bristles to help reach all areas of dentures and an easy grip handle.
• Caredent® Denture Brush – ergonomically designed for comfortable use with two brush heads and a rubber tip for polishing.

It’s important to clean any remaining natural teeth, gums and tongue using a standard manual or electric toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to help prevent decay and cavities.

Electric toothbrushes are not recommended for dentures, as the brushing action may cause damage. If you have removable partial dentures, you can use an electric toothbrush as normal when these are taken out.

Denture relines

Over time, your dentures or your mouth can gradually change shape as your jaw and bite changes. This can affect how your dentures fit and feel, and may lead to dentures coming loose or causing irritation.

If your dentures are in good condition and don’t need to be replaced yet, your dentist might suggest a denture reline during your next check-up. This involves changing the shape of the underside of dentures.

Denture relines may be ‘hard’ or ‘soft’:

• A hard reline involves trimming the denture to achieve a closer and more secure fit.
• A soft reline involves applying a cushioning material to the denture to reduce friction against the gum.

A hard reline may only be done by a professional, and while soft reline home kits are available over-the-counter, they are not recommended by dentists. Soft relines are best left to a denture prosthetist who can ensure any changes do not negatively impact your bite (how top and bottom teeth come together).

A hard or soft reline is recommended every two years for full dentures, while dentures will normally need to be replaced after 4 to 7 years depending on their materials and level of care.

Tired of Wearing Dentures?

If you’re considering a more permanent teeth replacement solution, book a dental implant consultation with Dr Dave Norcross at our East Victoria Park clinic or our Kelmscott clinic on 1300 108 133. Alternatively, you can ask Dr Norcross a question directly.

References

1. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/dentures