Is there anything more frustrating than denture breakage? Not only does a compromised appliance impair speech and your ability to chew, but it also calls for emergency denture repairs, which can cost a pretty penny.
If you’re aware of the most common causes of denture breakage, you’re in a stronger position to avoid accidents. Here are the four scenarios where you’re more likely to damage your dentures, and our best care tips to prevent this from happening.
1. Ill-Fitting Dentures
Over time, your mouth and jaw structures change. While natural teeth and gums can go with this flow, dentures aren’t so adaptable — in fact, they’re moulded to your mouth circa whenever you last had them fitted.
If you’re experiencing painful pressure points every time you wear your appliance, that’s your sign to schedule a denture reline. In fact, it’s best practice to have your dentures relined (in other words, adjusted or refitted) every two to three years.
So, why do dentures break when they don’t fit right? The same reason a square peg strains to enter a round hole — there’s an incompatibility there that leads to constant tension and forced contact. When dentures, which are inherently delicate, are pushed into mismatched contours every day, they’ll eventually break under the undue pressure.
2. Accidental Drops or Falls
Falls are the most common mechanical cause of denture breakage. They almost always happen while you’re cleaning your dentures or leaving them unattended in storage. Unfortunately, dentures are vulnerable to falls when left on counters or shelves, especially if they’re loose without a storage case. They may get knocked over or fall from the edge of a sink or shelf.
Wondering how to clean and maintain dentures without breaking them? When working with delicate equipment, your best bet is to cushion the blow. Wash your dentures over a towel to provide a soft landing, should they slip from your hands. Alternatively, wash your dentures in or over a sink of water so they won’t collide with the hard surface below.
3. Teeth Grinding or Jaw Clenching
Persistent teeth grinding or jaw clenching has a name: bruxism. An involuntary condition, bruxism usually occurs overnight — but it can also happen while you’re awake.
If you wear dentures, repeatedly grinding your artificial teeth together is going to take a toll on the appliance, which can lead to eventual breakage. The good news is that, unless you wear your dentures to bed, your teeth are safe from the nightly grind — and your appliance is sustaining less damage than natural teeth or irremovable prosthetics (such as implant overdentures). The bad news? Bruxism can still damage the soft tissues and jaw joint at night, so you should ask your dentist about custom night guards — but that’s a health issue rather than a matter of how to avoid broken dentures.
The key to preventing bruxism is to identify the root cause. Are your dentures fitting correctly, or have you had a reline within the past two to three years? If not, you may be clenching subconsciously to hold the loose denture in place. Have you been experiencing a fair amount of stress or anxiety? This is the most common cause of bruxism; it can be helped with even a few minor strategies — e.g. progressive muscle relaxation (the act of tensing and releasing each muscle group), meditation and deep breathing exercises, and reducing screen time in the evening.
4. Poor Choice of Cleaning Products
Cleaning your dentures is important, but choosing the right cleaning products is even more critical. Due to their delicate composition, dentures require gentle cleaning products that won’t weaken or scratch their material, as this can ultimately lead to breakage. Acrylic resin, the most common denture material, is especially vulnerable.
For your convenience, we’ve compiled a traffic-light list of cleaners, starting with what not to clean dentures with, and ending with perfectly acceptable choices:
Red Light: Don’t Use These Abrasive Cleaners
As a general rule of thumb, if the cleaner in question contains harsh chemicals, it’s a no-go. Consider the following blacklisted:
- Bleach (sodium hypochlorite)
- Ammonia
- Toilet, bathroom, or multi-purpose cleaners
- Toothpaste formulated for natural teeth
- Baking soda
It’s important to remember that dentures will eventually go back in your mouth, and that bleach, ammonia, or household cleaners — even in residue form — are toxic to ingest.
While toothpaste and baking soda aren’t as dangerous if ingested, they still contain ingredients that are too abrasive on the denture material.
Amber Light: Exercise Caution with These Cleaners
These cleaners aren’t completely blacklisted, but they should only be used sometimes, under specific conditions. Alternatively, if you’d prefer to play it safe, consider the following cleaning products banned in all contexts:
- White vinegar, diluted to a one-to-one ratio: Can be used to remove tartar or odour from full dentures. Soak for no longer than 15–30 minutes, lest you degrade the material, and rinse the appliance thoroughly with cool water once you’re finished — lingering vinegar residue may irritate the gums. Never use vinegar as a daily cleaner. Furthermore, never use it to clean partial dentures, as it will corrode the metal clasps.
- Three per cent hydrogen peroxide, diluted at a one-to-one ratio: If your full dentures have bacteria, mild stains, or strong odours, they may need something a little stronger. As is the case with diluted white vinegar, never soak dentures in hydrogen peroxide for longer than 15–30 minutes, and always rinse them with cool water once you’re finished. Never use this as a daily cleaner (or on partial dentures, under any circumstances).
Green Light: Cleaners That Are Safe for Daily Use
Finally, we’ve hit the green zone! Here is a list of denture cleaning solutions safe for everyday use:
- Denture cleanser tablets: These are great for daily soaking and removing bacteria, food residue, and odour. Popular brands in Australia include Polident, Corega, and Steradent.
- Mild dish soap: Before you pop your dentures in a glass, give them a gentle clean using a soft-bristled brush. Mild dish soap is fine to use, so long as it’s free of fragrances, bleach, and abrasives.
- Denture toothpaste: Alternatively, use a toothpaste formulated especially for dentures. Steradent’s got you covered with 115g tubes — available at pharmacies and supermarkets.
What to Do If Dentures Break
Now you know why dentures break and how to avoid broken dentures, you’re in a much better position to incorporate our denture care tips into your daily life. But you also may be wondering, ‘What if I’m overdue for a reline — or what if I break my dentures, despite my best efforts?’.
Whether you require a reline, denture repairs, or to start afresh with a new appliance, we can help you out. We create dentures Perth patients know and trust. Book an appointment at Direct Denture Care and we’ll take it from there.