Visiting a prosthodontist for dentures is one of the best decisions you can make to treat tooth loss. Once your permanent dentures arrive, it’s important to take time to learn how to care for them. Caring for your dentures properly will help extend their lifespan and protect your oral health.
Following is helpful information on denture care.
Taking Dentures Out
If you drop your dentures, they could easily break if they hit a hard surface. Exercising caution when you take your dentures out can help you protect your investment in a new smile. When you take your dentures out, do so over a plush folded towel. This can help prevent them from breaking if you happen to drop them.
Cleaning Your Dentures
Although dentures won’t decay like biological tooth structure, they can still accumulate plaque and buildup from leftover food. You should clean your dentures daily by brushing them with a soft-bristled brush. Using hard bristles could scratch their surfaces. It’s also important to thoroughly rinse dentures before you place them in your mouth.
Some patients place their dentures in a sonic cleaner. While this will dislodge debris and plaque, sonic cleaners do not replace the need for brushing prosthetic teeth.
In addition to brushing your dentures, you should also brush your mouth. Gently scrub the surfaces of your gums, your tongue, and the insides of your cheeks with a soft bristled brush. This will help control the growth of bacteria along soft oral tissue.
Overnight Soaking
Dentures are made from materials that require moisture. When you take your prosthetics out to sleep, place your dentures in water or a soaking solution. The water should be room temperature – never hot, as hot water can warp them.
Overnight soaking will keep their structures moist so that they continue to fit and perform as they should.
We provide compassionate treatment for tooth loss. If you have questions about your tooth replacement options, call Dakota Prosthodontics and Implant Center to schedule a consultation with our prosthodontist.
