Dentures are the tried-and-true way to refurbish your smile if you’ve lost several or all of your natural teeth. Whether you need a full or partial set, these versatile prosthetics can simultaneously restore your grin’s appearance and functionality.
Caring for your dentures correctly is essential if you plan to continue making the most of their many benefits. Unfortunately, many patients might not realize they engage in unhealthy habits that could harm their artificial teeth. Continue reading to learn about three things to avoid with dentures to keep them looking and feeling great!
Bad Habit #1: Sleeping in Them
It can take about a month for your mouth to become desensitized to supporting your dentures all day. However, once you’ve become accustomed to wearing them all the time, you might wonder whether it’s easier to sleep with them still inserted. While this might be okay to do occasionally, it’s not usually recommended.
Your dentures rely on a tight suction against your connective tissues to remain in place. If your gums never get a break, they could develop sores. Not only might this make wearing your restoration incredibly uncomfortable, but it increases the likelihood of developing gum disease or becoming infected.
Bad Habit #2: Skipping Cleanings
If you no longer have any remaining adult teeth, it’s easy to fall into the habit of not brushing every day. Remember, though, that just because your dentures can’t get cavities, it doesn’t mean your mouth is invincible. Bits of leftover food can cling to your prosthetics and attract bacteria that form plaque. This can leave them looking and smelling unpleasant in addition to causing gum disease.
To keep your dentures clean, you should take them out to thoroughly wash and floss them both morning and night. You can gently scrub all surfaces with a soft-bristled toothbrush and unscented dish soap that won’t scratch the material to remove residue and eradicate germs. Then, floss them to be sure no food is stuck in the pontics (artificial teeth) before rinsing them off and continuing your day.
Bad Habit #3: Not Wearing Them
It’s normal to feel somewhat sore in the first few weeks with dentures until your mouth adjusts. If you’re experiencing aches, you might feel tempted to leave them out for the day. Although it’s a good idea to give your gums a break every once in a while, you should still wear your restoration daily. Leaving it out on a counter somewhere allows it to dry out, which encourages bacteria to thrive and can result in cracks or breaks.
Wearing your dentures every day ensures that they stay moist and retain their shape. If you’re feeling uncomfortable, you can apply an adhesive cream that forms a layer of cushion between the acrylic base and your connective tissues.
Now that you know how to care for your dentures, you can enjoy them for years!
About the Practice
At Michelsen Dental, you benefit from a team of dentists with 20+ years of combined experience, so you know your smile is in good hands. They strive to get to know you so that they can provide fully individualized solutions to meet your unique needs. Then, they combine a kind and compassionate approach with state-of-the-art technology to deliver accurate, long-lasting results. If you’re interested in replacing missing teeth with dentures, you can request an appointment on the website or call (714) 492-1169.
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