Replacing your missing teeth with dentures in Knoxville is one of the best decisions you can make for oral health. However, you'll have to take good care of your new teeth if you want to keep your new smile for many years. Following the basic rules of denture care helps keep your hardworking artificial teeth in tip-top shape.
How to Care for Your Dentures
Handle Them with Care
Since dentures break easily and don't come cheap, you'll want to handle them carefully. It's best to clean them over a bowl of water or a folded towel in case you accidentally drop them. You'll also want to avoid using toothpicks while you're wearing them. Moreover, steer clear of strong cleaners or hard-bristled brushes that may cause damage to your new teeth. Lastly, keep them out of your children's or pets' reach.
Keep Them Clean
Without regular cleaning, your artificial teeth can build up stains, plaque, tartar, and bacteria. Besides irritating the gum tissue underneath the dentures, plaque buildup can lead to infection.
It's best to brush your dentures every day using a soft-bristled toothbrush or a special denture cleaning brush. You may use mildly abrasive toothpaste, dental paste, mild dishwashing detergent, or regular hand soap to help in the cleaning.
Rinse Them Following Each Meal
Rinsing your dentures below a stream of warm water after each meal will help eliminate debris that may cling to them. Besides making your dentures smell bad, leaving food particles in place can cause oral health issues you wouldn’t want to deal with.
Take Them Out Before Going to Bed
After wearing dentures all day, you must give your oral tissues a break. For this reason, dentists recommend taking your new teeth out before bed. If your dentures come with metal clasps, you'll want to soak them in warm water. However, if they don't, you may soak them in a special denture cleanser or a half-vinegar and half-water solution. Soaking dentures will help loosen food particles and eliminate plaque, tartar, stains, and harmful bacteria.
However, you may soak them in a special denture cleanser or a half-vinegar and half-water solution if they don't. Soaking them will help loosen food particles and eliminate plaque, tartar, stains, and harmful bacteria.
Use Denture Adhesive
Applying a denture adhesive gives you a tight grip that cushions your gums against your dentures’ force. However, excessive application will lead to ill-fitting dentures. Applying the adhesive with care enhances your dentures’ fit and comfort.
Eat Nutritious Foods
Since a healthier mouth results from a healthier diet, nourishing your body with nutritious foods is best. Besides ensuring proper nutrition, eating a well-balanced diet can slow the progress of gum disease.
Care for Your Gums
You’ll still need to care for your gums even if you’re wearing complete dentures. For this reason, you'll want to take them out and rinse your mouth before using a washcloth or a soft-bristled toothbrush to massage your gums. If you're wearing partial dentures, brushing and flossing your natural teeth can keep oral health issues at bay.
Schedule Regular Dental Visits
Since the gums and bones in the mouth naturally change over time, you’ll eventually notice changes in how your dentures fit. In some cases, changes in fit can also result from gum disease.
Poorly fitting dentures will not only not feel right but also cause problems such as sores, pain, and a burning sensation in the mouth. They may even cause you to experience abdominal gas pain from swallowing air. For these reasons, it's best to schedule regular dental visits so your dentist can adjust your new teeth.
Considering Dentures in Knoxville?
Dr. Brian Rich, DMD, provides top-quality dental care in a safe and comfortable environment. Contact us today to learn more about dentures and how to keep them clean.
