Dentures are a very common tool used for people who have lost some or all of their teeth. They are given to people to allow them to use their mouth normally for food and drink as well as talking and smiling.
Dentures are similar to teeth but have slightly different requirements for taking care of them. Dentures, when maintained properly, last a lot longer and help promote good oral health while restoring your confidence in your smile and improving your quality of life.
Dentures 101
Dentures are semi-permanent tools used for people that have lost some or all of their teeth. They are essentially fake teeth in a removable implement that the person uses much like normal teeth. Dentures can either be partial or full dentures. This could mean that a person puts in a full set of teeth, or just the top, or the bottom or some piece of both.
The teeth in dentures are made from the same materials as crowns and are very durable. The pink parts of dentures are meant to simulate gums and are shaped specifically to fit against your mouth and palette. While you can and should wear your dentures all day, they are not meant to just live in your mouth without maintenance.
How to Maintain Dentures
One of the most common complaints with dentures is bad breath. This is because people don’t remove and clean their dentures often enough causing a buildup of bacteria and particulates in the mouth. Additionally, food sticks to the plastic parts of dentures very easily compared to the teeth and these areas must be cleaned with special attention.
It is important to clean your mouth especially in areas where the dentures touch or sit. Since they are not permanently fixed to your mouth, food and other particulates can get between the denture and your mouth, causing problems. Using a toothbrush if you have teeth and mouthwash will help keep things clean and clear.
The biggest step towards proper denture maintenance is cleaning them. Like normal teeth, dentures should be brushed and rinsed each day. In addition to brushing, it is important to follow the strict guidelines you received from your dentist’s office for cleaning dentures the right way, with the right products.
Denture Cleaning
One way that dentures and teeth differ is how you can clean them. While you do brush both things, you cannot use the same products. Regular toothpaste is not good for dentures. Instead, you must use a denture cleanser with a separate soft toothbrush. Finally, you should soak your dentures in a denture cleansing product, like the effervescent cleaners you see on TV. Your dentures should sit in a glass of this stuff for the length of time your dentist suggests.
While this sounds time consuming, putting in the work to clean your dentures helps prevent problems in the future. After a while, the process is quick and easy. In order to allow your dentures to last as long as possible, your cleaning routine should follow these steps:
- Remove and rinse dentures
- Clean your mouth with a toothbrush and mouthwash
- Brush dentures with denture cleaner
- Soak dentures in denture cleaning products
- Rinse dentures thoroughly once they’re out of the solution
If you don’t maintain your dentures properly, you can experience issues that range from annoying to dangerous. Your dentures may stop fitting properly and move around in your mouth which can be annoying. Loose fitting also allows more food and particulates to build up causing worse instances of bad breath and leading to more serious issues like gum disease or jaw infections.
If you have dentures or are in need of dentures, or just want to talk to a dentist to find out more, contact us today at Hassey Do Duy Dental and schedule an appointment. Our dental professionals can help you with every denture related need you may have.
