Tips for Maintaining Oral Health with Dentures
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Removable dentures are among the most commonly used options for replacing missing teeth. While dentures offer a reliable and cost-effective tooth replacement option, their long-term use requires immaculate oral hygiene maintenance. This is because although there are fewer natural teeth remaining while you’re wearing dentures, it is still important to prevent oral soft tissue infections that can occur if the dentures are not cleaned properly. If you’re also wearing removable dentures, this blog offers practical tips that can help you keep your oral cavity clean and healthy.
1. Brushing and Flossing
If you are wearing a removable partial denture, ensuring optimal oral hygiene becomes even more important. This is because food debris can get sandwiched between the denture’s inner side and the oral soft tissues, leading to various dental complications. That is why dentists recommend brushing your teeth twice daily and flossing at least once a day. In case you are wearing a complete denture, you should keep your gums clean by using a non-alcoholic mouthwash for oral cleaning.
2. Brushing Your Dentures
When wearing dentures, it is also essential to brush them along with your natural teeth, to prevent soft tissue infections and tooth decay. However, when cleaning your dentures with a toothbrush, there is no need to use a toothpaste. In fact, using a toothpaste might make the denture’s surface rough which promotes further food impaction. So, you can simply use a regular toothbrush for denture cleaning at least once a day.
3. Denture Cleaning
Another effective method to clean your dentures is to soak them in a denture cleaning solution. Immersing them in a denture cleaning solution not only ensures that they remain germ-free but also prevents their shrinkage and dimensional changes if they are left in the open air. Dentures can also be soaked in water overnight. However, make sure that you don’t use boiling water as it can cause them to change their shape and become unusable.
4. Remove Your Dentures Before Going to Bed
Removable dentures should be removed overnight. This allows your oral soft tissues to heal after the pressure they receive from the dentures throughout the day. It also prevents damage to your dentures while sleeping. However, when you remove your dentures before sleep, make sure you immerse them in a denture cleaning solution or clean water. You can also rinse them in lukewarm water before immersion.
5. Rinsing Your Dentures After Each Meal
While eating, there are chances that food particles may get stuck to the inner surface of the dentures. If these food particles are not removed, they can cause various dental problems. Therefore, you should always rinse your denture after each meal, to make sure that there is no food particle adhering to them.
6. Visiting Your Dentist Regularly
Denture wearers require more stringent oral hygiene care than non-denture users. While brushing and flossing are excellent measures to prevent dental problems when wearing dentures, these measures sometimes prove insufficient, especially in denture wearers. That is why, it is a good idea to visit your dentist regularly for oral hygiene checkups. At every appointment, your dentist will carefully examine your existing natural teeth and your dentures to identify any underlying problems. In this way, developing denture-related oral health problems can be treated well before they cause permanent damage or require expensive treatment.
Removable dentures are a time-tested and reliable option for missing tooth replacement. However, they require constant monitoring and strict oral hygiene maintenance to ensure that they don’t cause any dental complications. If you are a denture wearer or are considering getting one for your missing teeth, contact us today. Our experienced and qualified dentists can help you improve your chewing efficiency and smile by replacing your missing teeth. So, visit us today and let us take care of the rest.