Health

How to Care for Dentures

Losing teeth lowers your self-confidence, but you don’t have to accept the gaps left by the lost teeth. For instance, you can opt for dentures that offer a temporary solution to the lost teeth. Eventually, you may need dental implants that permanently prevent bone loss and restore the teeth. Dental implants might be costly, and you might need to resort to less expensive dentures. Thus, you should look for a dentures Hilliard expert who can customize the dentures to meet your oral needs. They will educate you on ways to care for the dentures and how to prolong their lives; here are tips for taking care of dentures.

How to Clean the Dentures

  • Use a soft brush

You should clean the dentures as they might become a breeding ground for bacteria in your mouth. You can remove the dentures while cleaning the other teeth and rinse to remove the food particles; you should handle the dentures carefully to avoid bending the clasps. You may use a soft brush for the teeth and the soft brush on the dentures to clean them effectively.

  • Soak the dentures

You may soak the dentures overnight to stay in good shape; you may place them in water or a mild denture solution. You may check with the dentist on proper soaking as the dentures need to stay moist all the time. Moisture increases their longevity, and you may follow the manufacturer’s instructions on soaking and cleaning.

  • Rinse properly

After soaking the dentures, you may need to rinse them before putting them back in your mouth, especially if you soaked them in the solution overnight. The solution might contain harmful chemicals which cause pain, discomfort, and burns after swallowing. Moreover, the dentures may lose fit over time, and you would need to see a dentist to fix loose dentures. The loose dentures cause irritation, sores, and infection in the mouth, leading to oral problems.

What You Should Avoid When Cleaning the Dentures

  • Avoid abrasive material

You should avoid abrasive materials such as stiff-bristled brushes and harsh toothbrushes as they damage dentures. The dentures are soft and easy to damage with abrasive material, which causes friction on their surface.

  • Avoid whitening toothpaste

Although whitening toothpaste is good for your teeth, they contain peroxides that damage dentures. Thus, when using the whitening toothpaste, you would remove the dentures from the mouth. The whitening toothpaste does very little to change the color of the dentures; instead, it may make them brittle.

  • Avoid hot water

The hot water may warp the dentures. You should use your elbow to check warm water before placing the dentures.

Cleaning dentures increases their longevity, and you should ask your doctor about proper ways to care for dental replacements. The dentures are cheap and replace lost teeth effectively, and they could be a temporary solution before you fix dental implants. Like the other teeth, you should care for them and clean them twice daily. Then remove them when brushing the teeth to avoid exposing them to teeth whitening toothpaste. Then rinse, brush and soak overnight to maintain cleanliness and better shape. Good luck caring for your dentures.