Dentures are a prosthetic replacement commonly used to restore missing teeth and facial structure. They sit snugly over your gums to give you a naturally looking smile, help with eating, and improve speech. Although dentures offer a longer-term solution to missing teeth, they do require some maintenance. Here are some maintenance tips to help you preserve and protect your dentures.
Handle with Care
Dentures are delicate and can easily bend out of shape or even break. When there’s damage, the dentures can be difficult to repair, and when they’ve lost their shape, it can be hard to bring it to its original form. Thus, when transporting your dentures or holding them, try to use gentle hands and hold the dentures over a towel so that they don’t wind up being dropped and collecting bacteria from the floor. Try to keep them out of reach from children and pets to avoid potential damage.
Clean Your Dentures
Proper oral hygiene is essential for dentures in order to prevent irritation, infection, and gum disease. Particularly after eating, be sure to gently remove them with both hands and rinse them thoroughly. Don’t forget to remove the adhesives before you clean them, to preserve the adhesion and prevent further problems with shape and fit. You’ll want to make sure you remove all the food particles and brush your dentures with a soft-bristle toothbrush and a toothpaste for dentures, or with mild soap and water. Try not to scrub and avoid dry brushing, which can cause scratches and irreparable damage. Of course, you want to make sure to brush your tongue and gums. If you wear partial dentures, be sure to floss your natural teeth as well.
Soak Overnight
After cleaning your dentures, it’s important to soak them in water or a mild cleaning solution before bed or when you’re not wearing them. Leaving your dentures to dry out or putting them in hot water can cause the dentures to change structure and form. This can make it difficult for them to fit back into your mouth!
Dentures at Midtown Dental
With dentures, implementing these steps and putting in the effort to care for your dentures is important at-home care, but keeping up with your dental appointments will significantly help with its longevity! We urge you to follow up with your dentist as discussed to ensure that your dentures are functioning properly. At Midtown Dental, we offer traditional full and partial dentures, along with implant-supported dentures. If you’d like to know if dentures are an option for you, visit us at your earliest convenience for a consultation!
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