Within this blog we will be covering all the key points to know about how to remove plaque from dentures. This includes what plaque is, how it effects dentures, the removal process and when to visit the dentist.
What is Plaque?
Plaque is a slimy, sticky layer of bacteria which forms on the surfaces in your mouth throughout the day. This layer is known as a biofilm and encompasses microbes and their waste products, which group within microcolonies and reproduce. The plaque itself is a natural reaction between bacteria within the mouth and bacteria within food and drinks that are consumed throughout the day. As long as this plaque is regularly eliminated, then the mouth’s ecosystem should remain in balance; although if it’s allowed to build up, then it
can cause problems. Subsequently keeping dentures free of large amounts of built-up plaque is essential to avoid issues.
How Does Plaque Affect Dentures?
Without an effective and comprehensive oral health routine then plaque can accumulate on dentures. In turn this can cause several issues, which have been detailed below.
- Plaque can cause infections due to the bacteria
- Plaque can over time become tartar which is a light yellow/off-white substance formed when plaque interacts with minerals in your saliva and hardens. This can build up and requires professional cleaning to eradicate
- Gums may become irritated due to food particles/bacteria
- May lead to some discolouration or staining of dentures
- Potential for fungal infections such as thrush
- Likelihood of tooth decay for individuals with partial dentures
- Gum can become inflamed from infection or mouth sores
How To Remove Plaque from Dentures?
Removing plaque from your dentures and mouth as a whole is essential, and you should follow the aforementioned steps to deal with this issue
- Firstly, you should remove your dentures and clean the rest of your mouth, this includes natural teeth, your mouth roof, gums, and tongue. This is to ensure that you are removing plaque from your entire mouth, not just the dentures.
- Now that the rest of your mouth is clean you should rinse your dentures with lukewarm water, avoiding extreme temperatures which can damage the dentures.
- Following this you should then lightly brush the dentures with a soft toothbrush and mild soap. Harsh or abrasive items such as toothpaste should not be used to avoid causing damage or scratches to the dentures.
- In order to avoid dropping the dentures during the cleaning process then you should fill the sink partially with water to absorb the impact if you lose your grip.
- Ensure that when brushing you cover all surfaces and crevices including the fitting surface and clasps. It is essential that you are thorough and cover all areas to avoid a build-up.
- If necessary, you could use a child toothbrush to navigate harder to reach areas of the dentures and ensure brushing is slow and gentle. When cleaning ensure that no excessive force is used to avoid wearing down the denture.
- Dentures should be brushed every day, ideally in the evening before you go to sleep. It is also useful to rinse your dentures in between meals with lukewarm water to deal In between meals to remove food debris.
When to Visit the Dentist?
Along with the aforementioned care tips, you must take your dentures to your dentist regularly for your oral health check and deep denture cleaning. This should be done at least twice a year to ensure sufficient care for your dentures. At these visits you can also have cleaning performed on your natural teeth, assuming you have partial dentures.
Cleaning your natural teeth and dentures is essential, as tartar can often build up. This occurs when the plaque is not removed adequately, and it interacts with saliva. This hardened tartar cannot be removed by yourself and you must ask the dentist to remove it using a professional cleaning machine at regular appointments.
