Implant supported dentures need to be cleaned every day just like your natural teeth would if you want them to last a long time. Because the denture is attached to dental implants that are surgically placed in the jawbone, however, cleaning implant supported dentures is a little different from cleaning natural teeth. If your implant supported dentures include any detachable appliances, you’ll want to remove these for cleaning, taking care to clean around any attachment abutments and paying special attention to the gums, especially at the gum line.
If your dentures snap off, remove them for sleeping to prevent complications or infections. If your implant supported dentures are permanent, clean them as you clean your oral cavity, at night and in the morning. Your dentist will provide clear instructions on how you should clean your implant supported dentures, but one thing is for sure: keeping implant supported dentures clean is an essential part of maintaining their strength and stability over the long term.
Clean your implant supported dentures twice a day, just like you would your natural teeth, ideally following breakfast and then again at bedtime. It’s especially necessary to clean implant supported dentures before bedtime, as the oral cavity dries out during sleep and bacteria isn’t rinsed away as easily by saliva. Your implant supported dentures attach to your dental implants with attachment abutments that are affixed to the tops of the implant posts and emerge through the gums. These abutments should be a point of focus for your cleaning; make sure you have a good mirror and clear lighting so you can see any debris that might accumulate around or near these smaller elements.
Using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste and brushing gently with short, horizontal strokes, clean all the sides of the abutment shafts and the gums surrounding them. With these same gentle horizontal brush strokes, clean the backs of the rear teeth, all the way beyond the rear molars. Brush the gums gently in the directions of the chewing surfaces of the teeth, using a slight rotational movement to lift debris away from the gums. Your dentist will show you how to use a special spool-shaped toothbrush, called a proxabrush, to clean in tighter corners like the spaces around abutment pillars and the crevices between the root tips of the denture and the gums; include this proxabrush cleaning in your daily oral hygiene routine. Floss areas where the denture makes contact with the gum tissue, using a floss threader if needed, and complete your hygiene routine by rinsing the mouth with water, swishing thoroughly to access all the smaller spaces.
In combination with your own home hygiene routine, visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and checkups. Your dentist will assess the health of the gums and oral tissues and will check the fit of your implant supported dentures to make sure they’re still comfortable and properly in place. They may take x-rays periodically to check on the health and positioning of the implants and component parts, and they will routinely replace any attachment clips or other parts that wear out with day-to-day use. Between you and your dentist, you can keep your implant supported dentures clean, sturdy, comfortable, and useful for years.