Patients can find effective and affordable tooth replacement in the wake of tooth loss with dentures. These prosthetic teeth can replace several or an entire arch of missing teeth with the convenience of remaining removable.
As you would with any oral appliance, you will need to practice care and maintenance to keep your dentures looking, feeling, and functioning at their best. Read on to find three steps you can take to get the most out of your tooth replacement treatment with removable dentures.
Aftercare Tips for Removable Dentures
Continue Good Oral Hygiene
When you have prosthetic teeth with removable dentures, you know that these devices will not be subject to decay like your natural teeth. But you must still practice good oral hygiene to get rid of plaque. Plaque can affect your remaining teeth and gums if it lingers on your smile.
If you contract gum disease or damage surrounding teeth, your dental structure can change. Then your dentures will no longer fit as well as they should. You could then suffer from slippage of your device at inopportune moments.
So keep your smile healthy by adhering to proper oral hygiene regimens. This will entail brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing daily. You can remove your dentures to complete this routine without oral appliances hindering your ability to clean your smile. Visit your dentist for regular oral exams and teeth cleanings too.
Complete Separate Cleaning for Your Dentures
Plaque will collect on your dentures too, and it can spread throughout your mouth if you do not remove it from these appliances before replacing them in your mouth. So you will need to complete a separate cleaning regimen for your dentures as well.
At least once a day, perhaps when you do your usual oral hygiene regimen, brush your dentures too. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a specialized cleanser or non-abrasive paste. These materials ensure you do not scratch or damage your dentures while cleaning.
Rinse and Soak Your Oral Appliances
Before each time you put your dentures back into your mouth, you should rinse them with water. This gets rid of potential germs or lingering cleaning residues that might make you sick. When rinsing, do not use hot water because the high temperature could melt the acrylic material and damage the dentures.
When not wearing your dentures, you will need to soak them either in water or a special cleaning solution. The dentures might dry out otherwise, causing the shape to warp. If this occurs, the dentures will no longer fit securely or comfortably.
Ill-fitting dentures could lead to dental complications, so do not wear dentures that sustain this type of structural damage. Instead, give your dentist a call about this problem. You might require replacement dentures.
This dental work could be costly, so take preventative measures to maintain your removable dentures as well as you can. With proper care, your dentures can last for five years before needing replacements.