After a long day, it might be easy to skip some parts of your nightly routine. However, some tasks should never be neglected — including soaking dentures. Why is it so important to remove your dentures every night and let them soak? There are a few important reasons, which we will explore in this brief blog post.
Acrylic Is Porous
Acrylic is the most common base material for dentures. Although it looks and feels quite smooth, it actually has countless tiny pores. Bacteria can easily accumulate in those pores. Over time, there may be so many bacteria that your dentures start to take on an unpleasant odor. Even worse, they could increase your risk of gum disease. Soaking your dentures in a cleaning solution fights bacterial buildup and helps you maintain a clean, fresh, and healthy smile.
Increasing Age Brings More Bacteria
Dentures can benefit people of any age, but they are most commonly worn by older individuals. Unfortunately, the passage of time often brings some changes to the oral microbiome—the collection of microscopic organisms inhabiting the mouth. More harmful bacteria may be able to grow, especially if you suffer from dry mouth due to certain medications or medical conditions. Soaking your dentures is just one thing you can do to reduce the number of harmful bacteria in your mouth.
Brushing Is Not Enough
You may be diligent about brushing your dentures nightly, and that is wonderful. Your good habit can remove food debris from your prosthetic and help keep your teeth clean. However, brushing cannot effectively penetrate all the little nooks and crannies of your prosthetic. Soaking your dentures overnight, though, can remove almost 100% of bacteria, enabling you to wake up to a fresh smile each morning.
Your Gums Need to Rest
The last reason to soak your dentures nightly has less to do with soaking than it has to do with your gum health. Although it may be tempting to quickly clean your dentures and pop them back in your mouth, that could place excessive stress on your gums. By removing your dentures, you give your gums the opportunity to rest, lowering your risk of sores and other unpleasant problems.
Dentures Must Stay Moist
Are you sometimes tempted to set your denture on your nightstand and go to sleep without placing it in liquid? That is not wise. If dentures dry out, they could lose their shape. Even a slight alteration in their structure could cause them to become uncomfortable and sacrifice some of their functionality. Soaking them keeps them moist so they can maintain their fit for as long as possible.
Soaking your dentures nightly is one of the most important things you can do both for their functionality and your oral health! Make sure you do it every night to maintain a clean and comfortable smile.
Meet the Practice
The talented dentists at Aveni Dental Professionals are proud to provide dentures, denture maintenance services, and a range of other treatments for the Plymouth community. If you have questions about how to care for your prosthetic, our team would be happy to help. Contact us at 508-217-7454.