General Denture Care

Whether these are your First Dentures, Relining of Current Dentures, Immediate Dentures or simply a replacement set it is important to follow these few instructions below to assist with initial & common situations that arise from wearing dentures. 

Dentures are replaceable, can be remodeled, repaired & adjusted, but if dropped they will break. Please do not attempt to fix them yourself, you will ultimately make it more expensive or impossible for us to repair.  Keep all the broken pieces & call us to help you.

With new dentures or relines you may find that your speech seems restricted, a small hard lolly like  “Tic Tacs” are great . Roll the lolly around in your mouth to exercise your tongue.  Your tongue is a muscle & needs to get used to its new surroundings. 

Don’t be in a hurry to clean your denture. Place a wet cloth in your bathroom hand basin, with a little toothpaste use a small headed toothbrush to gently swipe the bristles over & around your denture. Do Not Scrub as overtime this can be like sandpaper.

For a hygienic cleanse, soak your denture in a clear glass of water & a small amount of mouthwash. If not in your mouth, dentures need to be kept moist & placed in a clear glass or safe denture box,  Do not wrap in tissue as this could be mistaken for rubbish.

From time to time small food particles will get under your denture plate & can cause pain or discomfort.  Remove your denture, clean the denture, then  rinse your mouth to remove the food particle. If you find that you still have a sore spot, remove your denture for as long as you can, overnight is great, &  regularly rinse your mouth with warm salty water.. Leave denture out until the redness & soreness has gone then replace denture.  You could also purchase SEDA-Gel Lotion we sell for $25 - with a cotton tip, place lotion directly on the sore spot. If sore spots continue then it’s time to make an appointment - Call us & we will certainly be happy to assist.

Dentures take a little time to settle in, so take your time to get used to them, don’t stress if this takes longer than you expected..  If you can not cut with a knife & fork and place into your mouth, if you can not break it with your fingers - it’s too hard, do not eat it.  Eat a little slower, a smaller amount & perhaps food that is easier to chew just for the first few meals till you are used to the new fit……  However pain is not an option, please call us.

Unfortunately some patients have flat ridges or low suction and paste is required to help hold the dentures in place..  We sell Holdtite Powder for $20 and find that it is sufficient for most situations but also a denture adhesive paste can be purchased for extra hold from any chemist or supermarket.

If you need help with your dentures while they are new & you're getting used to them please make an appointment.  If it has been a few months since we have seen you we may need to discuss relines (at an additional cost) or perhaps something else is happening.  Either way please call to make an appointment. We are here to help.

If your denture was an immediate (tooth out denture put in straight away) you'll need a reline within 3-6mths. Please ensure to rebook a reline as your denture will become very uncomfortable & will no doubt break due to the void left from the extraction as it heals.

For your overall oral health, self esteem, and personal appearance generally dentures need to be replaced every 5-7 years to ensure the best fit & appearance, & Immediate dentures must be relined within 12 months (3-6mth checkup) to ensure a quality fit after all the extraction shrinkage has occurred. 

If you are unable to relieve your discomfort with these few tips or are unhappy in any way please contact our office to arrange an appointment.