Dentures are often sued when some or all of your teeth have fallen out, in which case they become the predominant feature of your smile. This makes them incredibly important and it is absolutely essential that you take care of your dentures to ensure they remain in the best possible condition.
Replacing your dentures may turn out to be expensive, so keeping your original dentures in good shape can also save you money. Here are five ways you can make sure your dentures are always in the best possible condition:
Take Them Out Before bed
Even your dentures need a break from the effort they go through chewing, biting and digesting food during the day, so make sure you take them out before you go to bed. Mouth tissues will recover after wearing them overnight, which is important for good oral health.
If you cannot remove them overnight, it is important that they are removed for anywhere between 6 and 8 hours a day at some stage. If you dentures have metal clasps, soak them in warm water overnight. If they don’t use a half-water, half-vinegar solution instead.
Clean Them Regularly
False teeth need to be cleaned as often as real teeth, as they can still build up tartar and stain, leading to the production of bacteria. The tissues underneath your dentures can be affected by a consistent build-up of plaque, with complications leading to infection and irritation.
Brush your dentures using a soft-bristled toothbrush or a specialist denture cleaning brush. Dentures can be cleaned using dishwashing detergent, hand soap, mildly abrasive toothpaste and dental paste.
Handle Them Carefully
Dentures are expensive, so you won’t want to jeopardise them by leaving them lying around. They can break easily as well if treated without care, so always handle them appropriately and, when not in use, store them away carefully.
A folded towel should be sued when cleaning them to ensure they can’t fall onto hard ground. Toothpicks and hard brushes are also capable of damaging your dentures, so keep this in mind when cleaning them.
Make Sure Your Dentures Feel Right
If your dentures are not fitting your properly, you will need to visit your dentist to find out why. As we get older the gums and bones in our mouths gradually change, sometimes to adapt to dentures. Poorly fitting dentures can cause a range of problems including pain, sores and burning.
If the problem persists, your dentists can adjust your dentures so that they fit properly. In some cases, dentures that don’t fit can be a sign of periodontal disease, which needs to be checked out.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Taking care of your gums is just as important as looking after your dentures, so whenever you take your dentures out make sure you give your gums a good rinse with water.
Use a soft brush to massage your gums and to keep them clean every day before and after you sue your dentures. Partial dentures still require proper cleaning, so you can use a brush or dental floss to look after your teeth.
Article provided by Omnia Dental, a team of dental surgeons providing beautiful smiles from the practice in Basingstoke, for almost 20 years.
