Removing full dentures can be difficult.
The lower full dentures are the easiest to remove.
So take out the lower denture first by holding the lower denture with your thumb and index finger.
Upper full dentures can have a lot of suction holding them up.
You need break the seal between the denture and the pallet
Try holding the front of the denture with your thumb and index finger
and rocking it so that the back of the denture is dislodged.
If that doesn't work you may have to break the seal by pulling down along the side of the denture.
If you want to avoid putting your fingers along the side of the denture
try gently using a toothbrush to help break the seal.
Once the dentures are out
clean the mouth with a soft toothbrush
Partial dentures are held in place with small clasps that cling onto the teeth.
Some are looser than others.
You may need to put your fingers under the clasps on each side of the mouth to lift the denture out.
Dentures are slippery objects.
If they fall on a hard surface they are likely to crack.
Never clean them in the shower where they could easily fall onto a tiled floor.
It's better to clean dentures over a basin with a bowl filled with water
or place a face washer in the bottom of the basin to protect the denture if it's dropped.
Hold the upper denture firmly with your thumb against the smooth surface.
Then you can use a denture brush to clean the denture.
Carefully support the denture in the palm of your hand to clean the inside surface.
Use denture cleaning paste or liquid soap
rather than a regular toothpaste
as it can be too abrasive.
Never use denture paste to clean your natural teeth,
it doesn't have any fluoride in it.
Hold the lower denture like this -
to clean one side
and then the other side.
Never hold the lower denture like this
as it can cause the denture to snap in half.
Partial dentures have fragile wires that can easily be bent.
Don't put any pressure on the wires,
just hold the partial denture firmly and carefully clean the wires without applying too much pressure.
There are many different recommendations for storing dentures overnight.
Getting the denture out overnight
will give the gums a rest
and help prevent oral thrush.
They should be cleaned and stored in a way that prevents bacteria growing on the dentures.
If they are left in a closed container of water,
antibacterial denture soaking tablets can be used.
One last tip.
If a full denture has tartar build up that can't be removed,
soak the denture in vinegar for 8 hours
then give it a scrub with a nylon nailbrush
and the tartar will clean away.
If dentures are not kept clean, microorganisms colonise the denture.
These organisms can cause oral thrush,
cracking in the corners of the mouth and pain from the gums.
Thorough cleaning of dentures will give your client a fresh breath,
a pleasant taste and a winning smile.