When you first start wearing dentures, you should eat soft foods cut into small pieces and chew slowly using both sides of your mouth. 

Avoid chewing gum and any food that is very sticky, hard, or sharp-edged until you have gained confidence in safely biting and chewing with dentures. You can gradually start to eat other types of food until you are back to your old diet. 

While you can eat most foods with dentures, you should never use toothpicks, as they can damage the false teeth and gum material.

When it comes to cleaning dentures, the general rule is brush, soak, brush. Always clean your dentures over a bowl of water or a folded towel in case you drop them, and brush your dentures before soaking to help remove any food debris.

Using an effervescent (fizzy) denture cleaner will help to remove stubborn stains and leave your denture feeling fresher. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions, as some denture cleaners are not designed for metal dentures and vice versa.

Once you have soaked them in the denture cleaning solution, brush the dentures again (brushing the false teeth as you would brush your real teeth, being careful not to scrub too hard, as this may cause grooves in the surface). 

Most dentists advise using toothpaste and a small to medium-headed toothbrush. Make sure you clean all the surfaces of the dentures, including the surface that touches your gums. This is especially important if you use any kind of denture fixative.

It is important not to use any type of bleaching product to clean your dentures. Bleaching can lead to weakening of the denture as well as making it look unsightly. 

Additionally, only use cold water or lukewarm water to soak the denture. Using hot water can weaken the denture, causing it to crack or break.

Some people have sensitive gums and may need a softer lining made for their dentures. If you have one of these special linings, it is important to check with your dentist before using any cleaning products or fixatives, as some products can damage the lining.

Usually, you shouldn’t need to use a denture fixative if the dentures fit properly, as they will be custom-shaped to the contours of your mouth. However, if your jawbone has shrunk a lot, adhesive may be the only way to help retain dentures.

Fixatives should usually only be necessary for a short period of time if your dentures have become loose, while you wait for your replacement dentures. 

If there are gaps and your denture is slipping, ask your dentist for advice, as a new denture may be recommended and could be provided within a few weeks.

It’s important to visit your dentist regularly, even if you don’t have any of your natural teeth left. Dentists don’t only check your teeth and gums, but also the soft parts of the mouth, including the tongue and cheeks. 

These examinations are just as important, so the dentist can spot any infections, mouth conditions, or even the earliest stages of mouth cancer. Your dentist will be able to tell you how often you should visit for check-ups.

As your gums and jawbone shrink, even if cared for properly, your dentures will likely fit differently in the future. For this reason, you should see your dentist as soon as possible if your dentures:

• Click when you are talking
• Tend to slip, or feel like they no longer fit properly
• Feel uncomfortable in your mouth
• Are visibly worn and need replacing
• Cause mouth sores and infections
• Limit eating and speaking

You should also go to the dentist if you have signs of gum disease or tooth decay, such as bleeding gums, tooth pain, or bad breath.