Smile Point Dental Victoria

Blog

Dental hygiene tips for healthy teeth & gums

How to Care for Your Dentures

A lot of people require wearing partial or full dentures. These are prosthetic devices which help replace missing teeth in your mouth. Dentures can be worn for a single tooth or for an entire set. Although it significantly improves the way you look, wearing dentures comes with its own share of responsibilities. Just like plaque develops on normal teeth, dentures are also susceptible to it. Therefore, you need to properly care for your dentures in order to avoid any harm.

Some ways in which you can care for your dentures:

Always handle with care
Before you get the dentures, ask your dentists about ways to care properly for it. Learn the right way to put and remove the dentures to ensure that no harm comes to them during use. Be extremely careful not to drop the dentures while washing them as it can break them.

Rinse the dentures after eating
Just like some part of the food you eat remains stuck in the teeth, which leads to the development of cavities, the food stuck in your dentures can also cause harm to your oral health. It is crucial to remove the dentures and clean them with water after every meal.

Brush dentures daily
Proper care for dentures also requires brushing them daily using a soft brush. Don’t use toothpaste for cleaning the dentures as it can be abrasive and cause deterioration of the denture.

Soak overnight in water or cleaning solution
Special cleaning solutions are also available for dentures. You can also use water to soak the dentures overnight. This ensures that they remain clean. Using diluted vinegar is recommended if the dentures have undergone staining.

Remove dentures overnight
Removing the dentures while sleeping is also important for your oral health. It takes off the stress from the gums and gives them the necessary rest.

Regular check-ups
Visiting a dentist routinely is important for everyone, but it becomes even more crucial for people who wear some orthodontic device. A dentist can help find out if the dentures are being properly cared for ot not. The dentures also require to be refitted after a few years.

Never force them in
Wearing and removing dentures should also be done carefully. You should always be gentle with them and take time to fit them inside your mouth properly.

Be careful while eating
If you wear dentures, you also have to be careful while eating. Only take small bites of the food and gently chew it. This is important to ensure that the denture does not break due to too much pressure.

With daily cleaning with a cleaning solution and proper maintenance, you can keep your dentures clean and safe for a long time. If your dentures have stained or you are having problems with its fitting, immediately visit a dentist. You might need a replacement in case there is some inflammation under the denture, or it no longer fits, or if the denture has been a few years old.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.