Dentures are a long-standing solution for replacing multiple teeth or complete sets of teeth in patients’ upper and lower jaws. Dentures typically have a lifespan of approximately seven to 10 years, but you can control the quality of your life and the quality of their appearance and function during that lifespan by paying careful attention to the following eight do’s and don’ts.
Four Do’s
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Remove and rinse your dentures after every meal. You don’t need to clean brush them every time you eat, but simply rinse them with cool water to remove any loose bits of food, seeds, etc. that may be lingering on the denture. Any time you rinse or clear your dentures, do that over a folded towel, not over an empty sink. It’s easy to drop wet dentures, and dropping them into a hard sink can damage those dentures quite easily.
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Remove your dentures before going to bed and soak them overnight. It is unhealthy to wear your dentures overnight. To give your gums a break and to minimize the risks of developing infections, be sure to leave your dentures out for at least six hours of every 24-hour period. Soak your dentures overnight either in warm water or specialized denture cleaners. If you’re not sure what type of denture cleaner to use, ask the staff at your denture clinic in Calgary or your pharmacist.
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Brush your dentures daily just like you would natural teeth. The perfect time to do this is after taking them out before going to bed, and before putting them in water or cleaner to soak. Brush your dentures with a soft denture brush and use a specialized denture cleaner. Brush all the the surface of the denture using gentle circular motions and warm water. We’ve mentioned it before, but we’ll mention it again. Do this over a folded towel, not an empty sink or hard floor.
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Get in touch with a denturist in NE Calgary if you notice any changes in the way that your dentures fit. The shape and size of your jaw changes with time and those changes affect the way your dentures fit. Wearing ill-fitting dentures may result in sores on your gums. The staff at a denture clinic near you will examine your dentures for any sign of damage and to determine if adjustment, re-lining or replacement is appropriate.
Four Don’ts
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Don’t use any abrasive substances or rigid bristles while cleaning your dentures. Abrasive cleaners and rigid bristles can affect the appearance of and even damage your dentures.
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Don’t use cleaning products that contain bleach. Bleaches can alter the colour and appearance of your dentures. Either use non-whitening and non-abrasive toothpaste or specialized denture cleaning products recommended by your dentist.
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Avoid using hot water. Using boiling or excessively hot water can soften, twist and warp your dentures. Whenever you’re cleaning or rinsing your dentures, use only lukewarm water. Never try to clean your dentures by placing them in boiling water.
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Don’t ignore your dentures. Over time, we hope that you’ll become so accustomed to wearing dentures that they’ll feel like natural teeth in your mouth. To keep them looking and feeling like natural teeth, treat them at least as well as you would treat your own natural teeth by rinsing, cleaning, brushing and soaking them regularly as suggested above.
If you have any questions about the condition of your dentures, get in touch with a denturist in Calgary at your convenience. Don’t settle for a poor fit, any soreness or deteriorating appearance.