Eating a great meal and chatting with loved ones are two life joys that no one should ever have to sacrifice. Dentures can be an awesome replacement for several or all of your teeth. They can come in handy when it comes to enhancing your lifestyle, regaining your self-confidence, and even restoring a more youthful look. But just because they are not natural teeth doesn’t mean that they don’t require the same level of care. At Carrum Downs Dental Group, we want our denture patients to get the most out of their dentures. That’s why we have compiled some simple tips for proper denture care for our new denture patients below.
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Rinse
It’s ideal always to rinse your dentures with warm water after every meal. Rinsing helps in removing any food particles that may be lingering around the dentures causing build-up. If you leave food debris there for a long period, it may start to decompose and lead to bad breath along with other oral health complications.
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Brushing
Just like natural teeth, dentures also need to be brushed on a daily basis. Don’t use regular toothpaste since it’s abrasive and can scratch your dentures, causing unhealthy residue and build-up. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush to brush the dentures gently, riding them off bacteria and extra food particles. Just like rinsing, brushing also goes a long way in keeping your dentures and breath fresh.
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Denture Cleaner
As mentioned above, regular toothpaste (especially whitening toothpaste) is not safe to use while cleaning dentures. You may use mild dishwashing liquid or hand soap. Bleach may corrode any metal on your dentures or even change its colour. So avoid using bleach. Consult with your dentist of safe products that are tested and proven for effective denture cleaning.
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Storage
To avoid dentures losing their original proper shape to your mouth, ensure that you’ve stored them in a moist place whenever you are not wearing them. The best place to store them anytime you are not using them is in water or denture soaking solution. Avoid hot water; this may distort their shape.
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Dentists Appointments
Even though you don’t have your natural teeth, it’s vital to visit your dentist on a regular basis. Your dentist can test the fit of the dentures and make any necessary adjustments and also professionally clean them for you. Also, you need to have the overall health of your mouth checked out.
Bottom Line
At first, your dentures may feel a bit strange, but with time your mouth will get used to them. Don’t worry about a little soreness at first or even some minor irritation. This is very normal and so is increased saliva. However, if this problem persists, contact your dentist.
Dentures help you keep your appearance and maintain that beautiful smile after you lose your teeth. With proper care, you can keep that smile and function as if you never lost your teeth in the first place. They will resemble your natural teeth, and no one will ever know that they are dentures if only you provide proper care to them.
If you have any questions about providing proper care for your dentures, give us a call at Carrum Downs Dental Group and we will be happy to answer any of your questions.