Partial or full dentures (removable teeth) can replace missing teeth and improve your appearance. Dentures are designed to look natural and are made from a variety of materials.
Despite the fact that these structures are artificial, care for dental prostheses is necessary.
What is the best way to clean dentures?
Plaque and food stick to dentures just like they do to natural teeth. Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that forms on dentures and teeth after eating and drinking. If you don’t clean your dentures, plaque can form and cause gum disease and bad breath.
Dentures should be cleaned with a soft-bristled toothbrush at least once a day. It is even better to brush them twice a day, every morning and every night, and ideally after each meal. However, don’t use toothpaste to brush, as many brands of toothpaste add ingredients that are too abrasive for removable teeth. These toothpastes can gradually damage the surface of dentures, leaving scratches or small cracks.
Instructions for cleaning dentures
- Always remove and clean dentures over a sink of water or a folded towel. If you accidentally drop them, the towel and water will protect them from hitting a hard surface.
- Remove the dentures from your mouth and rinse them with warm water.
- Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, gently brush your dentures to remove bacteria, food particles and plaque. Clean all surfaces of the prosthesis. You can use a denture cleaner or liquid soap and warm water. Brushing also loosens and removes any adhesive from the denture. After cleaning, rinse the dentures with warm water.
- If you go to bed, soak the dentures in warm water or denture soaking solution overnight. Do not allow dentures to dry out. Due to dryness, they lose their shape and become more fragile. Talk to your dentist about proper care for your dentures at night. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for denture cleaning and soaking solutions. Rinse your dentures thoroughly before putting them back in your mouth, especially if you are using a solution. These solutions may contain harmful chemicals that cause vomiting, pain, or burns if swallowed. Do not soak dentures in hot water. They can be deformed.
- Do not use products that contain bleaches, as they can weaken the dentures and change their color.
- Do not soak dentures with metal attachments in solutions containing chlorine. These solutions can tarnish and corrode metal.
- Although you don’t need to use toothpaste to clean your dentures, you do need it to clean your gums and tongue. This will keep your gums healthy and help prevent bad breath. If you have partial dentures, remember to brush and floss daily.
- Rinsing your mouth with mouthwash also promotes oral health. You can remove your dentures before using mouthwash or use a mouthwash designed for denture wearers.
Proper care of dentures will help them last an average of 7 to 10 years.
The nuances of care for various dental prostheses
When using acrylic dentures, it is not recommended to eat very hard food and sticky products such as gum and caramel.
If you have been fitted with nylon prostheses, you should remember that their flexible base can accumulate bacteria more actively, so you need to take care of such prostheses more carefully.
But braces are not so picky, it is enough to clean them after eating, and there is no need to take them off at night.
How to care for fixed dentures
Caring for crowns, bridges, fixed prostheses on implants, etc. is no different from ordinary oral hygiene. Teeth should be cleaned twice a day with a brush and dental floss. And also visit the dentist twice a year for a preventive examination.
When to go to the dentist
If your denture breaks, see your dentist. Do not attempt to repair broken dentures yourself. This can lead to further damage to the removable teeth. If you are using denture adhesive, follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use the proper amount. Remove the adhesive from your dentures every night with a soft-bristled toothbrush, soap, and water.
Regular visits to the dentist are an important part of your oral health. If you have dentures, continue to schedule regular dental visits every 6 months. Also, talk to your dentist if you have any concerns about your dentures.
Make an appointment if:
- you feel discomfort in your mouth because of prostheses;
- prostheses are poorly fixed, “slide” in the mouth;
- prevent you from eating or talking;
- look visibly worn or broken.
You should also see a dentist if you have the following symptoms:
Ви також повинні звернутися до стоматолога, якщо у вас є такі симптоми:
- mouth ulcers;
- bleeding gums;
- bad breath.
If you develop mouth ulcers, it may mean that your dentures no longer fit properly.
Loose dentures can cause irritation, ulcers and infection. Your dentist may recommend a new denture if repairs don’t solve the problem.