Tips for Maintaining Oral Health with Dentures
Though you may think that your dental routine can be relaxed now that you have fewer/no teeth, many patients are surprised to discover that their dentures need just as much care. Not only do denture wearers have to properly clean and maintain their false teeth, but particular care needs to be taken to ensuring the jaws remain healthy too. This is because the gums serve as a foundation for the dentures, and any irritation caused by bacteria can quickly cause sores on the gums that will make wearing dentures extremely uncomfortable. If you’re new to false teeth and are unsure how to properly care for them, read our handy guide below on tips for maintaining oral health with dentures.
Tips for Maintaining Oral Health with Dentures
1) Brush your dentures daily
Much like you would with real teeth, dentures require daily brushing to keep clean. This helps ensure plaque and bacteria don’t build up and cause stains. However, unlike real teeth, toothpaste and hard bristle brushes should be avoided as this can damage the dentures. Instead, gently brush your dentures with a soft bristle brush and nonabrasive denture cleaner, taking care not to bend attachments or damage the plastic.
2) Keep your dentures in a solution overnight
Of all the tips for maintaining oral health with dentures, making leaving them out while you sleep is one of the most important ones. This is because wearing dentures at night can greatly increase the levels of saliva in your mouth, which is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. It also doesn’t give your gums a break from the constant rubbing of the dentures, which can cause sores and infections. Bacteria caused by dentures can quickly evolve into stomatitis, gum disease or even pneumonia, and the constant rubbing can accelerate jawbone loss. This results in both an unwelcome change in your looks, and the need for new dentures at a quicker rate.
3) Rinse dentures every time you eat
On top of regularly brushing your dentures, it’s also important to give them a quick rinse after eating. This can be every time you eat something, or whenever is possible (as you can’t always do it away from home). A quick rinse helps to stop bacteria and stains from building up on your dentures, and food from getting trapped in between your gums. If food does get trapped, it can cause irritation and sores which may lead to gum disease if left unchecked. Incorporating daily brushing and rinsing into your routine will ensure your dentures last longer. Just remember to avoid hot water, as this can cause the plastic to warp.
4) Look after your whole mouth
If you’ve got partial dentures, it’s likely you’ll want to try and take care of the rest of your teeth as much as possible. But when it comes to ‘how to maintain good oral health’, you’ll want to look after your gums too. On top of ensuring no food gets trapped in between your dentures and gums, it’s recommended that you regularly massage your gums to stimulate blood flow and to alleviate any irritation. If you find your dentures are becoming too uncomfortable, chat to your dental prosthetist about denture adhesives, or to see if it’s time for a new fit.
5) Get regular dental check-ups with your dental prosthetist
When it comes to top tipsfor maintaining oral health, seeing your dental prosthetist regularly is one we can’t stress enough. Your dental prosthetist will likely want to see you every few months to start off with to ensure everything is fitting well. This may then be extended to twice a year as your mouth gets used to your dentures.
New to dentures and wondering how to maintain your oral health? If you have any concerns, get in touch with a dental prosthetist at Denture Health Care for more information or to book an appointment today. You can contact us online or call 1300 304 092 to arrange a consultation with one of our dental prosthetists.
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