If you've just recently begun wearing dentures, you might not be familiar with the best way to prevent future oral health problems. Dentures are a safe and effective way to replace your natural teeth, but they're still going to need to be taken care of properly. Without proper care, your dentures may develop foul odors and can harbor germs and bacteria that can lead to oral infections. Here are three simple steps to care for your dentures and protect your mouth.

Don't Make Them Permanent

While your dentures are designed to replace your natural teeth, they aren't designed to be permanent. That means your mouth is going to need a break from them once in a while. Instead of sleeping in your dentures, be sure to remove them at night. This will give your mouth a good eight hours of rest from your dentures. This is important, since wearing your dentures for extended periods of time can lead to mouth sores and can cause your jaw bone to weaken.

Keep Them Clean

To protect your mouth and prevent foul odors, your dentures should be cleaned thoroughly at least once a day. The best time to provide a deep cleaning is at night. Before you go to bed, brush your dentures with a denture brush and cleaner. Once they've been brushed, you should sanitize them. To sanitize them and kill hidden bacteria, soak them in a solution of equal parts water and vinegar for about 30 minutes. Rinse the solution off your dentures and then soak them in clear water throughout the night. Your dentures will be clean and sanitized for you to wear the next day.

Care for Your Gums

Even if all of your natural teeth have been removed, you still need to care for the inside of your mouth. Germs and bacteria can build up that can lead to infections and mouth sores. To keep your mouth healthy, you should brush your gums twice a day with a soft toothbrush. Be sure to also brush your tongue to get rid of the bacteria that can build up on the surface. Be sure to notify your dentist as soon as possible if you develop sores in your mouth.

If these are your first set of dentures, you need to familiarize yourself with the proper way to care for them and your mouth. The suggestions provided here will help you keep your dentures clean and your mouth healthy.

For more information and tips, contact a denture specialist or dentist, such as those at Milner Dentistry.