How should you clean a resident’s dentures before placement?

• A. Rinse with clean water, then brush with a denture brush; handle carefully and place in water when not in use.
• B. Brush dentures dry with towel
• C. Soak in alcohol
• D. Rinse with hot water only

Answer: (A)

Cleaning dentures before placement starts by removing debris and germs from both the denture and the mouth. Rinse the dentures with clean water to wash away loose particles, then brush them with a denture brush using a nonabrasive denture toothpaste. This two-step action physically removes plaque and food particles from all surfaces and helps keep the mouth comfortable when the dentures go back in. Handle the dentures gently to avoid dropping or breaking them, since they are delicate.

Store them in water when not in use to keep them hydrated and maintain their shape; drying them out can cause distortion and make them uncomfortable or difficult to fit. Avoid soaking in alcohol or using hot water, as alcohol can degrade the material and hot water can warp it. Brushing dry with a towel won’t clean effectively and won’t protect the dentures from damage. Rinsing with hot water alone won’t remove debris and can distort the denture.