Keeping your mouth clean is just as important when you wear dentures. You should brush your remaining teeth, gums and tongue every morning and evening with fluoride toothpaste to prevent tooth decay, gum disease and other dental problems.
It’s important to clean your dentures daily to remove plaque and food deposits, as unclean dentures can also lead to problems such as oral thrush, tooth decay, bad breath and gum disease.
Dentures may break if you drop them, so you should clean them over a bowl or sink filled with water, or something soft such as a folded towel.
When you first start wearing dentures, you should eat soft foods cut into small pieces.
Avoid chewing gum and any food that is sticky, hard or sharp-edged.
You can gradually start to eat other types of food until you are back to your old diet. Never use toothpicks.
You shouldn’t need to use denture fixative (adhesive) if the dentures fit properly. However, if your jawbone has shrunk a lot, adhesive may be the only way to help retain them. Your dentist will advise you if this is the case.
Adhesive can be removed from the denture by brushing with soap and water. Any adhesive left in the mouth may need to be removed with some damp kitchen roll or a clean damp cloth.