Anyone who has been fitted with a full, or even a partial, set of
dentures has probably invested a great deal of time, and money into them. Additionally, there is a ‘breaking in’ period. And no one wants to repeat the entire procedure any sooner than might be absolutely necessary. This is why you should do your utmost to take care of your dentures which will last longer and fit better, if you observe some basic ground rules.
Watch What You Eat An excess of liquids like red wine and coffee will stain your dentures and, they may have to be professionally cleaned should the stain get really bad. Extremely ‘hard’ food like corn-on-the-cob, some nuts, and popcorn could very possibly damage your dentures, or cause the gums under the
dentures to develop sore spots.
Clean Dentures Daily Although dentures are made of an extremely durable plastic, they are not as tough as natural tooth enamel, and although they need to be brushed every day, just as one does their regular teeth, most commercial toothpastes can actually damage them. You need a special brush with soft bristles that are specifically designed to clean dentures. Being careful not to bend or move any attachments, brush your dentures at least once a day with this brush and plain water to remove all debris and plaque. While there are special cleaners that you can soak your dentures in, do not use this method as a substitute for brushing them. Nor should you soak your dentures in hot water which could cause them to warp.
Handle Your Dentures Carefully It is entirely possible for a denture to break should it fall and hit something hard. Therefore, when brushing your
dentures, place a sink-liner or folded towel in the sink which will break the fall, should you happen to drop them.
Remove At Night This allows your gums to ‘rest’ and avoids the possibility that you might, in your sleep, grind your teeth together, damaging the dentures. However, in order to avoid them drying out you need to leave them soaking in cool water.
Do Not Attempt To Whiten Dentures Dentures are made of plastic and cannot be whitened like natural teeth. While some dentists recommend a weekly soak in diluted household bleach to disinfect the dentures, do not do so, unless you have talked to your dentist first. Be sure and follow their instructions very carefully.
See Your Dentist Regularly Dentures that used to fit perfectly may, over a period of time, become loose or cause sore spots, which could be caused by a natural change in the shape of your gums. Do not try and live with the discomfort, but visit our office so that we can, depending on the problem, make an adjustment to the underside of the denture with some kind of cushioning material. Alternatively, we may take another impression of your gums and have new acrylic made which will fit more snugly and more comfortably. Additionally, regular visits to our office enables us to check the condition and fit of your dentures and, prevention being better than cure, can immediately treat any problems before they gain a foothold.
