Caring for Dentures
After you’ve made the personal choice to get dentures, you’ll want to keep them looking and feeling as good as new. With these tips, you can keep your smile as bright as ever.
Play it safe
When you look at your dentures, you’ll notice that they are made of either plastic or porcelain and can contain some metal parts. Because of this structure, you may realize that they are actually quite fragile in design and need to be treated with care.
When you are cleaning your dentures, you’ll want to hold them carefully over a sink full of water to cushion them should they slip from your hands. A folded towel also works well to protect them from breakage should the dentures fall.
Remove them at night
In order to keep the shape of the dentures, most dentists will recommend that you remove them at night while you are sleeping. When they are not in your mouth, you can store them in a special denture cleaning solution.
This removal also lets your gums rest during the course of the night before you place them back into your mouth. Most dentists will recommend that the dentures be removed for six to eight hours every day.
Clean them well
With a specially designed toothbrush for dentures, you’ll want to clean your dentures. These brushes are made to avoid scratching the delicate surface as other conventional brushes might do.
Start by water rinsing the dentures of any loose particles of food. This helps to keep things from sticking to the surface and then scratching or damaging the appearance. If you go to brush without rinsing, you can push the particles back and forth against the dentures.
You’re also taking care to remove any plaque that may have built up during the day from the foods that you have eaten.
The cleanser that you should use is not the traditional toothpaste, but rather a specific denture cleanser. This also helps to protect the surface and the shape of the dentures. If you’re in a rush, a mild dish washing or hand soap can also be effective for cleaning.
Rinse your dentures
After you’re done carefully brushing your dentures, taking care to remove any plaque, then you should be sure to rinse away the denture cleanser thoroughly from the surfaces.
This cleanser can be harsh to the surface of the gums if not removed properly. Take your time to put the dentures under a stream of water for the best results.
Before you place the dentures in your mouth
When you’re ready to put your dentures back into your mouth, you’ll need to carefully brush your gums, tongue, and roof of your mouth in order to have a clean surface for attaching them. This also helps to keep the circulation of your gums stimulated and remove plaque at the same time.
While you might not have your original teeth, you do have some beautiful new ones to take care of. By following these five tips, you’re certain to keep smiling.
About the Author:
Terry Ross is the author for and creator of 1st-4-teeth
Article Source: www.iSnare.com
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Comments
Hello, thanks for all the tips on caring for your dentures. In response to one of your tips though when you are in a hurry, I’ve also heard from other sources that you can rinse them in mild dish soap or hand soap but it seems everytime I try that I can never get all the soap off no matter how well I rinse them. It reminds me of days of my youth when mom would put a bar of soap in my mouth lol. Do you think maybe as the dentures get older there are more places for the soap to hide when you rinse them?
My dad always had issues with the fact that he smoked and it make his dentures yellow. The fancy smokers soak never seemed to help either. Making sure they are protected should you drop them is important. He dropped them a half dozen times in the titaniums sinks on the submarines he was on while in the Navy. Fortunately they were always able to repair them well.