If you wear dentures, you have probably been told by your dentist that you need to soak them every single night. But many patients don’t really understand why this is so important, especially if they’re otherwise keeping them clean. But soaking your dentures isn’t just for cleanliness. Here’s why its so important that your prosthetics get their nightly swim!

Bacteria Battles

Whether you wear dentures or not, as you age, the bacteria levels in your mouth increase. These bacteria can cause a litany of problems, including gum disease and cavities. Now, you may think that because you don’t have any biological teeth remaining you are safe, but even without teeth these bad actors can wreak havoc on your mouth, and on your dentures.

That’s because dentures are porous, and bacteria can easily enter them and thrive. Then, they can travel back into your mouth, infecting your gums and spreading throughout your body. By giving them their nightly soak, you are helping to keep them bacteria-free, so that you’re not creating a nightmare scenario for your oral and overall health.

Feeling Fresh

Another benefit of soaking your dentures each night is odor elimination. Who doesn’t want fresh, clean breath? Avoid offensive odors by giving them an extra layer of freshness, so that your breath smells good and there’s no weird taste to your food from trapped aromas.

Keep it Together

One of the biggest dangers of not soaking your dentures is that they can dry out when they’re not in your mouth. Keeping them hydrated in a cup of soak or water overnight will help prevent this. Dry dentures can cause a long list of problems, including improper fit and cracking. While in some cases of improper fit you can repair them with a reline procedure, if they develop cracks they must be completely replaced.

It’s Good for You, too!

Finally, the most important benefit of soaking your dentures every night is to give your mouth a well-deserved break. While you may not think you need it, consider this: when you are missing teeth, your jawbones lack the stimulation they used to get from chewing. Thus, because they are not needed or stimulated, they begin to break down. When you replace missing teeth with the help of dentures, your chewing provides much-needed stimulation again, slowing the deterioration process. Unfortunately, however, when you don’t give your mouth a break from wearing them, this has the opposite effect. Your bones actually deteriorate faster than they should, putting them at an even greater risk. Thus, allowing this break time each night isn’t just good for your dentures, it’s good for you, too!

About Dr. Young

Dr. Bradford Young understands that many people have had bad experiences at the dentist, which is why he works so hard to make sure that his own practice is different. He truly takes the time to get to know his patients and their families, and he’s proud to provide high quality care with plenty of kindness and compassion.

If you need dentures, schedule an appointment with Dr. Young today by visiting our website or calling us at 610-439-1363.