Many people have different dental conditions that require various treatments. Some people who have missing teeth will need dentures to help improve their oral aesthetics.
Dentures are prosthetics devices made to replace missing teeth and can be supported by the surrounding tissues in your oral cavity. Most people have conventional dentures, which are removable and can cover your teeth entirely or partially. Other denture designs rely on bonding to the teeth or through implants, called fixed prosthodontics.
If you have dentures and you're wondering how you can adequately take care of your prosthetics, keep reading. In this article, you'll find everything you need to know about how you can properly care for your dentures. Let's begin!
Daily denture cleaning routine
Before you start cleaning your dentures, you want to fill your sink with water and lay down a soft towel on the counter. You need to do this because your dentures are incredibly fragile and may break if they fall on hard surfaces.
Once your countertop and sink are ready, rinse your dentures under warm water to remove any debris. A common mistake that people make is to use boiling water to clean dentures. Hot water can severely damage your dentures, causing them to warp and fit incorrectly.
After rinsing your dentures, brush your prosthetics with a soft brush as you would with normal teeth. However, you must only use denture toothpaste because regular toothpaste can damage and cause scratches to your acrylics.
Besides brushing, you can also use cleaning tablets soaked in water with your dentures. These tablets will help remove stubborn stains and plaque buildup.
To finish things up, you want to rerun your dentures through warm water before inserting it back in your mouth to remove excess products from the paste and cleaning tablets.
Mouth and gum care with dentures
Whenever you're not wearing your dentures, you want to keep them submerged in water or dental solution. This is because they may dry out over time, causing your dentures to warp and become brittle.
Removing your dentures before you sleep is essential to allow your gum tissues to breathe. By doing this, you can avoid any oral irritation and discomfort and prevent any dental infections in the soft tissue underneath your dentures.
Another important oral healthcare tip you should do is clean the tissues around your mouth with warm water and a soft toothbrush. The areas you need to focus on are the ridges of your gums, tongue, cheeks, lips, and the roof of your mouth. Additionally, you can rinse your mouth with lukewarm saltwater to eliminate any bacteria stuck in your oral cavity.
Frequently asked questions about denture care
1. What do I do when my mouth feels sore and dry?
Dentures can produce sore spots in your mouth when there is too much pressure on a specific site. To deal with this, you should have your sores examined by your dentist so they can give you the proper medication to treat the area.
The reason you're probably experiencing sores is that your dentures may be broken or too big for your mouth. You should bring your dentures to your dental house so they can fix it up right away.
2. Can I use bleach to whiten my dentures?
Bleach is an incredibly strong chemical that won't only damage your dentures, but also affect your dental health. Bleach can whiten the pink acrylic of your dentures and cause unwanted abrasions, so it's best to stay away from products that contain bleach.
3. Will I need to change my dentures?
Since the state of your gum tissues will always change, and you may suffer from bone loss over time, you'll most likely need to have your dentures replaced.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to care for your dentures properly, you won't be experiencing any oral mishaps and problems any time soon. By keeping your oral health in check, practicing proper denture care, and regular visits to your dental house, you'll step out with healthy and brilliant pearly whites every single time!
If you're looking for a reputable dental house in Waterford, look no further because Dental House MI is here. We are a team of professional dentists specializing in dentures, cosmetic dentistry, oral surgery, and more. Book an appointment with us today!