You might benefit from dentures if you’re looking for a reliable prosthetic with a long history of successfully restoring smiles. These artificial teeth are a versatile way to refurbish your grin, regardless of how many teeth you’ve lost. With them in place, you can eat, speak, and smile much more easily.
However, caring for your dentures is essential if you want to continue enjoying their many advantages. Continue reading to learn three things to avoid that can help keep them in good shape for years!
Bad Habit #1: Skipping Cleanings
Unless you have irremovable implants or a partial set of dentures, your artificial teeth rely on a firm suction against your gums to remain in place all day. This gives any bacteria between them plenty of opportunity to thrive, increasing the likelihood of developing an oral issue like gum disease or tooth decay that can impact your jawbone. Regularly removing your dentures to clean them thoroughly is a simple but effective way to safeguard your smile.
Both morning and night, you should take your prosthetics out of your mouth to scrub them thoroughly (but gently) on all sides with a soft-bristled toothbrush and mild dish soap. Follow this with flossing, then rinse them with room-temperature water before reinserting them. Remember, hot temps can warp the base, so they no longer fit! If you’re going to bed for the night, leave them in a glass of water or a soaking solution to eradicate germs while you rest.
Bad Habit #2: Not Wearing Them Everyday
When you’re new to dentures, it’s not uncommon to develop mild aches and inflammation until the soft tissues in your mouth acclimate to supporting them during the day. If you feel sore, you might be tempted to avoid wearing them and leave them out somewhere to dry.
Unfortunately, doing so can be harmful to your artificial teeth. Without moisture, the acrylic base can crack or warp. This can lead to ill-fitting dentures, which increases the risk of gum disease and the potential embarrassment of having them fall out at an inopportune time.
Bad Habit #3: Sleeping in Dentures
It takes many patients about a month to adjust to wearing their restoration, but once they do, they feel so comfortable that they’re tempted to fall asleep while still wearing them. This might be safe to do occasionally, but typically, it’s not recommended.
Your gums deserve a break from supporting your prosthetics all day. If you wear them 24/7, the tissues can become tender or lose circulation. Not only might you develop sores, but this also leaves you prone to gum disease. To make matters worse, many people subconsciously grind their teeth at night, which can prematurely wear down dentures. Taking them out to soak at night allows your mouth to mend and keeps your restoration safe.
Taking a few simple precautions to maintain your dentures can protect and preserve your smile for years!
About the Author
Dr. Anthony Dillard has 10+ years of experience helping people enhance their lives by improving their oral health. He earned his dental doctorate at Baylor College of Dentistry and has spent hundreds of additional hours on continuing education, so you know you’re in good hands. He provides a comfortable and relaxed environment to help set you at ease and then uses state-of-the-art equipment to deliver accurate results. If you need to replace missing teeth, you can request a consultation on the website or call (972) 394-1492.