9 Steps To Care For Your Dentures

9 Steps To Care For Your Dentures

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9 Steps To Care For Your Dentures

If you’re getting dentures, it’s important to know how to take care of them. It can be easy to forget that your dentures need some attention and care. It’s important to take good care of your dentures because if you don’t, they’ll start to fall apart and lose their effectiveness. 

In this article we’ll show you how to keep your dentures in tip-top shape so that they last as long as possible!

9 Steps To Care For Your Dentures​

What Are Dentures?

Dentures are artificial teeth that help replace the missing teeth in your mouth. They aid in better speech and chewing. They also make you look and smile better. Dentures are sometimes referred to as false, artificial, or fake teeth.

They can be made out of acrylic, metal, porcelain or any other material you choose, and are designed to look realistic. 

Even if your denture teeth are artificial, it’s still crucial to maintain frequent cleanings. However, cleaning dentures requires more than just brushing. To keep them in good shape and protect your oral health, additional steps are needed.

What Are The Types of Dentures?

Depending on how many teeth are missing, your dentist will advise you on the best type of denture. Among the denture types are:

  • Complete dentures: The gums support these dentures. On the upper gums, lower gums, or both, they can replace an entire row of teeth.
  • Partial dentures: The missing tooth or teeth are replaced by these dentures. The dentures are anchored to natural teeth or occasionally dental implants.
  • Fixed partial dentures: Fixed partial dentures, also known as dental bridges, are anchored firmly to the neighboring teeth. A fixed partial denture or bridge can only be taken out by a dental professional.

Why Will You Need Dentures?

You may want to wear dentures for the following reasons:

  • Loss of teeth.
  • Dental problems such as infections or pain due to decay that make chewing difficult or painful
  • Facial injury
  • Gum disease or receding gums.
  • Cosmetic reasons to improve eating and speaking skills.

9 Steps To Care For Your Dentures

Dentures are similarly susceptible to food and plaque attachment as real teeth are. After eating and drinking, dental plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, develops on teeth and dentures. Plaque can accumulate on your dentures if you don’t clean them, increasing your risk of gum disease and poor oral hygiene.

Your overall oral health depends on regular cleanings. You will require the following to keep your dentures clean:

  • Soft towel
  • Water
  • Soft-bristled toothbrush
  • Denture cleaning solution or mild soap

1. Prepare your bathroom.

Before taking off your dentures, lay a soft towel on the bathroom counter. The towel acts as a cushion to protect your dentures in case you accidentally drop them. Better safe than sorry.

2. After eating, take out and rinse your dentures.

To get rid of food crumbs and other loose particles, take off your dentures and wash them with water.

3. Be careful when handling your dentures.

Be careful when cleaning your dentures to avoid bending or harming the plastic or the clasps.

4. After taking off your dentures, brush your mouth.

After removing, brush your natural teeth using a soft-bristled toothbrush and gauze to clean your tongue, cheeks, and roof of your mouth (palate). Remove any residual adhesive from your gums if denture adhesives were used.

5. Clean your dentures at least once every day.

Every day, take off and gently clean your dentures. To get rid of food, plaque, and other deposits, soak them and brush them with a soft-bristled brush and nonabrasive denture cleaner. When using denture adhesive, make sure to clean the grooves that rest against your gums to get rid of any leftover adhesive. Denture cleansers shouldn’t be used in the mouth.

6. Dentures should be soaked overnight.

The majority of denture types require moisture to maintain their shape. Overnight, immerse the dentures in water or a gentle denture-soaking solution. Consult your dentist for advice on how to overnight-store your dentures. Observe the cleaning and soaking recommendations provided by the manufacturer’s instructions.

7. Before putting dentures back in your mouth, properly rinse them, especially if you used a denture-soaking solution.

Make sure to give them a good rinse because these solutions include dangerous chemicals that, if ingested, might result in sickness, discomfort, pain, or burns.

8. Make appointments for routine dental exams.

How frequently you should go to get your dentures cleaned and checked will be advised by your dentist. Your dentist may evaluate the interior of your mouth to make sure it’s healthy and help ensure a correct fit to minimize slippage and pain.

9. If your teeth feel loose, visit your dentist.

If your dentures become loose, visit your dentist right away. Infection, ulcers, and discomfort can be brought on by loose dentures.

Dentures

Other things to take note of:

  • To prevent damaging your dentures, stay away from harsh toothpaste, strong cleansers, and stiff-bristled brushes.
  • Peroxide is frequently used in toothpastes marketed as whitening products, however it has no effect on the color of denture teeth, so avoid using them on your dentures.
  • Avoid using bleaching products since they might damage and alter the color of dentures. Chlorine-containing solutions shouldn’t be used to soak dentures with metal attachments since they can corrode and discolor the metal.
  • Keep your dentures out of hot or boiling water to prevent warping or deforming.
  • Avoid sleeping with your dentures on.
  • Call your dentist if your dentures break. Avoid attempting to repair damaged dentures on your own. This may result in additional harm to your dentures.
  • Use the recommended quantity of denture adhesive according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Every night, wash the dentures’ adhesive off with water, mild soap, and a soft-bristled toothbrush.
  • Get routine dental exams to maintain healthy gums, protect your remaining teeth from decay, and guarantee that your dentures fit correctly.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should you clean your dentures?

Cleaning your dentures at least once every day is advised by dentists. Brushing your dentures twice a day is even better. Brushing your dentures in the morning and before bed is a wonderful practice. Additionally, you want to soak them every night in a mild soap or dental cleaning solution.

Dentures shouldn’t be brushed with toothpaste, but you should use toothpaste to brush your tongue and gums twice a day. This helps prevent bad breath and maintains the health of your gums. Remaining teeth should be brushed and flossed daily if you wear partial dentures.

Additionally, using a mouthwash is beneficial for your oral health. Before using mouthwash, you can take out your dentures or use mouthwash made especially for people who wear dentures.

Where do I store my dentures?

If dentures are left in hot water or allowed to dry completely, they may warp or deform. Your dentures should always be stored in room-temperature water or a denture solution suggested by your dentist when not being worn.

You should never enclose your dentures in a paper towel. They might be mistaken for trash and discarded easily. Store your dentures safely by keeping them out of the reach of children and animals. Both children and pets like playing with dentures.

What can I eat with my dentures?

Take your time with your new dentures even if they may feel uncomfortable at first. Before moving on to tougher dishes like steak, you should be careful and start with soft foods. Ensure that you chew each bite thoroughly and in little amounts. If possible, try to chew simultaneously with both sides of your mouth.

Treat your dentures with more consideration than you would your natural teeth by being gentle with them.  You can eat whatever you want once you’re accustomed to it. But remember to use caution when biting or chewing.

What Happens when Dentures Dry Out?

Dry dentures come with a number of issues, including:

  • They can start to hurt. Dentures stay flexible and comfy in your mouth because of moisture.
  • They get fragile. Because dry dentures are brittle, they are more prone to break if you drop them. You would have to start the entire process of getting new dentures over if your dentures broke.
  • They have a higher chance of contamination. You may maintain their cleanliness and get all the harmful bacteria removed by soaking your dentures in a cleaning solution at night.

Schedule an appointment with your dentist if you experience any discomfort, make noise when you eat or speak, don’t fit properly, or if it’s broken. Not doing anything about the discomfort could lead to mouth sores, bleeding gums, bad breath, or overall bad oral hygiene. 

The best way to take care of your dentures is to make sure you are doing it right. The most important thing to remember is that dentures should be cleaned and maintained regularly. This will help keep them looking new and feeling comfortable while also preventing problems like infections or damage to the teeth they fit into.

YOUR DENTIST FOR dentures IN WALL TOWNSHIP, new Jersey

9 Steps To Care For Your Dentures​ - Wall Township, NJ

Looking for dentures near you in Wall Township?

Visit Dr. Avi Israeli of Sage Dental and Spa to get your dentures! Let us help you get your smile back. 

Call us to book a consultation today!

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