One of the misconceptions about dentures is that once your teeth are gone, you don’t need to worry about looking after your mouth. In fact, oral health remains just as important — and in some ways demands more attention — when you wear dentures.
Looking After Your Gums
Your gums are the foundation that your dentures sit on. Keeping them healthy is important both for comfort and for maintaining the fit of your dentures over time.
Every day, when your dentures are out, gently brush your gums with a soft toothbrush or a soft cloth. This removes plaque and bacteria, stimulates blood flow in the gum tissue, and helps keep the tissue firm and healthy.
Give Your Gums a Rest
Dentures shouldn’t be worn 24 hours a day. Removing them overnight allows your gum tissue to recover from the pressure of the denture throughout the day, and lets saliva — which has natural antibacterial properties — cleanse the gum surface. This is the main reason we recommend taking dentures out at night.
Don’t Forget Your Tongue and Palate
The tongue and the roof of your mouth also accumulate bacteria and plaque. A gentle brush each day — without toothpaste, which can irritate — keeps these areas clean and reduces bad breath.
Watch for Warning Signs
Contact us if you notice:
- Persistent soreness or ulcers under your denture
- White patches or red areas anywhere in your mouth
- Changes in how your dentures fit or feel
- Bad breath that persists despite good cleaning
Regular Denture MOTs at Cotswold Denture Clinic include an oral health check and oral cancer screening — an important safety net for all denture wearers. Book yours today.
No — we recommend removing dentures overnight to give your gum tissue a rest. Wearing dentures 24 hours a day can lead to accelerated bone loss and sore spots.
You can’t get gum disease in the traditional sense without natural teeth, but denture-related inflammation (denture stomatitis) can occur if dentures are not cleaned properly or worn constantly. Good denture hygiene prevents this.
Yes — regular check-ups remain important for denture wearers to monitor fit, oral health and to screen for oral cancer. A Denture MOT at Cotswold Denture Clinic covers all of these.
