2-4-3-Overnight Care

The amount of saliva that protects the skin and tissue of the mouth from disease decreases at night.  Remove dentures to better protect oral health overnight. This will protect the skin and teeth from the pressure of the denture and prevent plaque buildup.

Removing and properly cleaning dentures at night helps prevent skin inflammation (as shown by yellow arrows) and denture stomatitis. It also prevents cavities and gum disease caused by bacteria from the denture which may damage the supporting teeth.

Store dentures in a closed container used only for this purpose.

• Always store dentures in a liquid
• That liquid can be plain water or a cleaning solution
• Store dentures in a closed container used only for this purpose shown in the picture
  • Tip: poking or drilling holes in the storage containers can reduce the amount of unwanted moisture building up that can lead to bacteria or mold build up
• Soaking the dentures in a cleaning solution may help reduce bacteria buildup
• It is recommended to soak the dentures in a cleaning solution overnight once per week

For partial dentures, use products specifically for partials to prevent damage to the metallic parts. NEVER use household bleach for partials.

Many denture cleaning products are available and have been shown to be equally effective.  House hold bleach can only be used on COMPLETE DENTURES but not for partials.

• When you use household bleach only use for 10 minutes.
• Any form of cleanser MUST BE thoroughly rinsed off before putting the dentures back into the person’s mouth.  Always follow the instructions given by the cleaner manufactures.