Why You Should Soak Your Denture When You Don’t Wear Them

Dentures have the ability to provide many years of use, making them a worthwhile investment for addressing severe tooth loss. With that said, their lifespan largely depends on how well you take care of them now. For example, you may have been told that soaking dentures every night is crucial. Rather than going to sleep with them in your mouth, here are three reasons to soak them before bed (and when they’re not in use) instead!

Unclog the Pores of Your Denture’s Acrylic

While dentures feel like solid prosthetics, they are actually a lot more porous than you would think. For example, the pink acrylic portion contains many tiny holes that oral bacteria can easily collect inside of. This makes it easy for them to grow and fester without you realizing it. In order to prevent dental disease, this bacteria needs to be kept under control, and soaking is one of the best ways to accomplish this outside of cleaning them with a dedicated oral rinse and denture-safe brush.

This becomes especially important as you age since bacteria tends to be more of a problem. The older you get, the less saliva the mouth produces naturally. While this can occur due to the aging process, it can also be exacerbated by certain medications that cause dry mouth. Either way, it only enables bacteria to spread more quickly, making at-home brushing of the gums a necessary habit. This cannot be done properly unless the denture is removed.

Your Gums Need Rest Too

Even once your gums get used to wearing dentures for hours at a time, that doesn’t mean they are able to all of the time! Since teeth are mostly supported by the jawbone, the gums are sure to experience quite a lot of stress throughout the day. When it’s time to go to bed, you’ll need to give them a rest. Failing to do so can increase the risk of developing painful oral sores.

With that said, if you notice your gums are feeling tender even after they’ve had all night to rest, that’s a sign that you need to have the denture either relined, repaired, replaced, or upgraded to an implant version.

Soaking Prevents Dentures from Drying Out

Even if you weren’t to wear your denture while you sleep and simply keep it on your nightstand, dryness is one of the worst things for a denture. When exposed to air for long periods of time, it can cause them to lose their shape and become uncomfortable to use. In other cases, it can increase the chances of them cracking and requiring expensive repair before you even maximize their lifespan.

In short, soaking is not only a great way to take care of your denture, but your oral health as well. If your denture doesn’t feel quite right, get in touch with a dentist today!

About the Author

Dr. Joe Kern makes sure every denture is designed not only to be as comfortable as possible, but long-lasting and natural-looking. On top of providing partial and full dentures, he also partners with local specialists in the area to provide implant dentures. To schedule an appointment or have your denture examined, you can contact him through his website.