How do I care for new dentures in the first week?

What to expect, step by step

Cleaning the denture, step by step

The goal is removing biofilm, not scrubbing hard. Denture acrylic scratches easily, and scratches hold more plaque, so abrasive products actively make the problem worse over time.

Guidance from the ADA is to soak and brush daily with an effective nonabrasive denture cleanser, or to use mild soap with a soft bristled brush. Avoid bleach and abrasive powders, which damage the material.

• Fill the sink with water or lay a folded towel down first, so a dropped denture does not fracture
• Rinse the denture after every meal to clear loose debris
• Brush all surfaces, inside and out, with a soft brush and a nonabrasive denture cleanser or mild soap
• Do not use regular toothpaste; most are abrasive enough to scratch acrylic
• Do not use bleach, powdered cleansers, or hot water
• Rinse thoroughly before putting it back in, especially after a chemical soak
• Store it in cool water or cleanser solution whenever it is out, so it does not dry out and warp

Looking after the mouth underneath

Losing your teeth does not end oral hygiene. The tissue under a denture still needs cleaning and still needs a break from being pressed on.

Brush your gums, tongue and the roof of your mouth with a soft bristled brush every morning before you put the denture in, and again at night. It removes plaque, stimulates circulation and helps with bad breath. If you still have some natural teeth and wear a partial, those teeth matter more than ever, because the clasps sit on them and trap plaque against them.

The other half is rest. The standing advice is to take the denture out for at least four hours in every 24, and overnight is the practical way to do it. That is also what keeps denture stomatitis, the inflamed reaction in the tissue under the plate, less likely.

If you had extractions the same day

The first week with an immediate denture is really two things happening at once: extraction healing and denture adaptation. The extraction rules take priority.

That means keeping the denture in for the first 24 hours, avoiding straws, not smoking, not rinsing vigorously, sticking to cool soft food, and using cold packs on the outside of your face for swelling. Vigorous rinsing and suction can disturb the blood clots in the sockets, and losing a clot is what leads to dry socket.

Once your dentist has taken the denture out at the follow up visit, gentle warm salt water rinses are typically started, and you begin removing the denture yourself to clean it after meals.

What is normal this week and what is not

Normal: soreness across the ridge, one or two ulcerated spots, far more saliva than usual, a lisp, food getting under the plate, feeling like you cannot chew anything, and needing an adjustment visit. Almost everyone gets several of these.

Not normal, and worth a call: bleeding that will not settle with pressure, pain that is getting worse after day three, a denture you cannot get back in, fever, or a spreading facial swelling.

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