5 Tips to Care for My Dentures

If you have missing teeth, dentures are one of the options available for making your smile appear whole once again. As you age, you are susceptible to tooth loss in a variety of ways. Having poor oral hygiene can lead to missing teeth as can facial trauma. Even poor genetics can play a role. You are not alone. Plenty of people have lost their teeth and have turned to dentures to help repair broken smiles.

Take proper care of dentures

Whether a patient is new to dentures or has had them for a while, having a good oral hygiene routine in place is good for maintaining dentures and increasing their life span. Dentures may sometimes require a trip to the dentist for adjustment, tightening or reshaping. This is a common occurrence. However, there are ways for patients to preserve the longevity of the dentures to cut down on how often realignment or replacement is necessary.

Let them rest

Patients should remove dentures before heading to bed. This gives the mouth tissues time to recover from having the dentures in all day. If a patient cannot take them out at night, then removing them for six to eight hours during the day is also an option. When dentures are out, patients should soak them in warm water. Patients can also use a half-water, half-vinegar solution or a special cleanser specific to dentures. The soaking removes stains, tartar, plaque and bacteria.

Handle them gently

Dentures can break easily, so patients need to be careful when handling them. When cleaning them, patients should keep a towel or bowl of water underneath in case an accidental drop occurs. Patients should also avoid strong cleansers or hard brushes when cleaning. These can all damage the dentures. Keep them away from pets and young children.

Clean them daily

Just like natural teeth, dentures need to be cleaned on a regular basis. Dentures are still susceptible to stains, tartar and bacteria. If a patient’s dentures have plaque buildup, this can lead to problems with the tissues under them, such as irritation or even infection. Dentists recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush or a special denture brush.

Watch out for changes to the fit

If a patient has dentures that do not fit right or feel too uncomfortable, then it is time for a trip to the dentist. The bones and gums in the mouth change over time. This leads to an improper fit for the dentures. Sores, burning and pain can all occur with dentures that do not fit properly. Periodontal disease can also change the shape of a patient’s gums. So seeing a dentist regularly is important.

Take care of the entire body

Dentures can make it difficult and sometimes painful to bite and chew specific fruits and vegetables. This means patients may not be getting the proper nutrition they need. Follow a well-balanced diet to avoid malnourishment. This is important because a poor diet can lead to gum disease, which can affect how the dentures fit.

Take dentures seriously

You should always take caring for your dentures seriously. They are your replacement teeth, after all, and you want to maintain a good oral hygiene routine to ensure the dentures last a long time and do not need constant fixing. When in doubt about cleaning or caring for dentures, talk to a dentist for more information.

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