Through age, poor oral hygiene, or bad habits, many people end up losing a lot of their teeth. This makes eating and speaking hard while also leaving a dent in your confidence.

Tooth loss in your later years is usually permanent. Fortunately, dentures have been a viable solution to this problem. These are artificial teeth designed to take the place of the teeth you have lost, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of a full set once more.

When it comes to dentures, there are numerous options, but the most common types are full and partial dentures. The former works if you’ve lost an entire row of teeth or both the ones at the top and bottom of your mouth. Meanwhile, the latter suits much smaller replacements.

Whether you need partial or full dentures Sydney or wherever you are, you must consult a dentist to learn if they’re a good solution for you.

How You Can Take Care Of Your Dentures?

Despite all their benefits, dentures are still pieces of prosthetic equipment at the end of the day. That means their quality and longevity depend on how well you take care of them.

Here are the essential steps for taking care of your dentures:

1. Keep Brushing Your Mouth Everyday

Maintaining healthy oral hygiene is the first step to preserving your dentures. If you’re missing all your teeth and have complete dentures, you should still clean your tongue and gums with a soft brush every day before putting them on. 

Plaque can build up on teeth and gums, contaminating your dentures. This is another reason why you should keep brushing. If you still have some teeth left, you must make sure they’re brushed as well.

2. Use An Appropriate Brush For Your Dentures

Though a regular, soft-bristled toothbrush shouldn’t damage your dentures, investing in a brush specifically for them is always better. 

You can buy denture toothbrushes in most drugstores. Your dentist can make referrals for denture care equipment if you have difficulty doing so.

3. Thoroughly Brush And Clean Your Dentures

As mentioned in a previous point, dentures are susceptible to plaque buildup just like natural teeth. They will turn yellow if you don’t brush them daily and even stink if you don’t use the right cleaning solution before and after use. Over time, these turn your dentures into breeding grounds for bacteria that cause serious oral infections.

In light of this, you should know how to clean them properly. To begin, rinse your dentures over a container full of water for a few minutes. This should keep them from breaking in case they fall. Wash them thoroughly in warm water to remove any food residues. 

Next, clean the dentures with a cleaning solution your dentist recommended. Soak it, then use a damp denture brush to scrub the surfaces carefully. Remember not to scratch the plastic or metal components. Make sure you’re brushing and rinsing with warm and clean water. 

Finally, brush your natural teeth thoroughly with fluoride toothpaste. You should do this before putting your dentures back in. It will help keep your mouth healthy and remove any plaque buildup.

These steps are essential to ensuring your dentures remain in good condition for regular use. So, make it a part of your routine.

4. Never Wear Dentures Overnight

Although dentures are designed to be worn constantly, giving your gums a rest is necessary from time to time. You should take your dentures off at night, follow the steps for proper cleaning, and store them in a container with the appropriate solution in a secure place.

Again, make it a point to rinse your dentures before putting them. You don’t have to rinse them out if you kept them in clean, regular water. But if you submerged them in a denture solution instead, wash them out to avoid getting affected by left-over chemicals.

5. Know The Signs of Damage And How To Deal With Them

If your dentures show signs of deterioration, you might be tempted to restore them on your own thoroughly. Unfortunately, this isn’t always a good idea. Instead, you should make an appointment with your dentist for an effective solution. 

Here is a list of things to keep in mind when dealing with denture damage:

  • Don’t use repair kits sold in drugstores or elsewhere to fix your dentures, even if they seem to work. Dentures require skill and the use of the proper materials to properly repair. Attempting to fix them on your own may lead to further damage.
  • Check if you’re toothpaste or cleaning solutions contain peroxide or bleach in their list of components. They are substances that can discolor and wear down your dentures.
  • Never soak your dentures in chlorine solutions; this is especially important if your set has metal parts.
  • Don’t try to align your dentures just because they don’t fit well. You may end up breaking them or getting injured.

Overall, it’s best to consult the aid of experts before doing anything else to your dentures. This should keep you out of unnecessary expenses and further problems down the line.

6. Always Check If Your Dentures Fit Well 

Get in touch with your dentist immediately if your dentures are loose or don’t fit your mouth correctly. These usually need adjusting when the mouth’s soft and hard tissues change due to aging.  

If you don’t get your dentures adjusted as soon as possible, you risk damaging your mouth and the dentures along with it. You may end up with serious injuries or infections. As soon as you feel anything wrong with your dentures, you must contact your dentist, tell them what’s going on, and arrange an appointment if needed.

Takeaways

If you take care of your dentures properly, they can be worn comfortably for five to seven years before they need to be replaced. Therefore, you should always make their proper maintenance a key part of your routine. Denture wearers should also see their dentist at least once every six months for checkups and adjustments to keep their replacement teeth looking and feeling great. If you need more advice on how you can better take care of your dentures, you can check this dentist out in Marlborough or one near you.

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