How Do I Care for My Dentures?

15 Nov How Do I Care for My Dentures?

It’s amazing how an item as small as a tooth can have such a huge impact on your life. When you are missing teeth, you don’t seem to smile as big, and dinner also becomes more difficult to swallow. However, with dentures, you can restore both your smile and your ability to eat effectively in a cost-effective manner. Taking care of your dentures, though, is paramount to maintaining them for as long as possible.

Removable dentures offer the advantage of being more affordable than other tooth-replacement options, especially when multiple teeth are involved. Dentures additionally are simple to adjust as your mouth changes over time.

Caring for your dentures involves several steps:

• Brush and rinse your dentures each day. This prevents food debris from building up on your dentures, and it also prevents staining. A soft toothbrush designed specifically for use on dentures will keep you from damaging them.
• Place your dentures in a commercial denture cleaner at night. This is the best way to clean dentures because many toothpastes are abrasive and thus can scratch your replacement teeth. In addition, the cleaner keeps your dentures moist so that they don’t become brittle. You may also place your dentures in an ultrasonic cleaner, which uses sound waves to remove food deposits from the appliance.
• Avoid handling your dentures over the floor, as you can easily drop and break them. Instead, use a towel as a cushion when you are working with your dentures.
• Visit your dentist for regular dental check-ups. Your dentist will make sure that your appliance is in good shape and can even remove the buildup of stains or hardened food debris without damaging your appliance.

Dentures are ideal if you need a tooth-replacement solution that is relatively cost-effective and easy to adjust over time. However, dentures can be fragile and break easily if not handled with care. To determine whether you are a good candidate for dentures, or to find out how to make your dentures last, contact our experienced dental team today.