If you’ve finally made the leap to replace your missing teeth with dentures in SE Calgary, we encourage you to focus on the following two things next: first, getting used to using dentures by following the tips a dentist near you will provide; and second, take good care of your dentures in SE CalgaryHere are some simple instructions to follow.
Let’s start with what might seem like a silly tip: Keep your complete or partial dentures in SE Calgary away from your dog. At Heritage Smiles Dental, we don’t understand exactly what dogs think about dentures, but they sure seem to love chewing them up. Help your dog to avoid the temptation to chew your replacement teeth by keeping them out of reach and in a safe location. Trust us: If your dog gets to your complete dentures near you, they’ll be no good to you at all.
You’ll shortly read how important it is to rinse and clean your dentures near you, but it’s equally important to be prepared to rinse and clean your dentures to avoid causing them any damage. Your dentures are sturdy but, at the same time, can be broken if dropped onto something hard. You may be surprised just how often that dentures are damaged from being dropped into an empty sink or onto a hard-tiled bathroom floor while being cleaned or rinsed with slippery hands. To minimize the risk of damage, wash and rinse your dentures over a sink filled with water or lined with a towel… just in case.
Every time that you eat, rinse your dentures. Eating enables food particles, bacteria, sugars and starches to cling to and accumulate on, around and even beneath your dentures. The longer that those food particles, bacteria, sugars and starches remain on your dentures and gums, the more likely it is that they’ll contribute to gum disease and perhaps even stain or produce odours on your dentures themselves. To eliminate or minimize those risks, take a few moments to rinse your dentures after you eat. If you’re eating away from home and don’t feel comfortable doing so at a friend’s home or restaurant, be sure to do so as soon as you get home — over a sink filled with water or lined with a towel.
Don’t let your dentures get dried out. If your dentures become dry, the material from which they are made can warp to the extent that they won’t fit or function properly. It’s important not to let your dentures dry out. Whenever they are not in your mouth or you’re not rinsing or cleaning them, keep them moist by placing them in a dedicated container containing enough water to cover your dentures.
Speaking of keeping your dentures moist and clean, avoid using hot water. Water that is too hot can soften the material from which your dentures are made slightly. As the material softens, the shape of your dentures can change. Even if your dentures will fit properly after that, they may not perform properly and may cause painful sores and abrasions on your tender gums. Don’t skip the cleaning, rinsing and soaking steps described in this article, but use lukewarm water instead of hot water.
When cleaning your dentures twice daily, don’t improvise. Use the right products. Your dentist in SE Calgary can recommend or even provide the perfect product for cleaning your specific dentures. Don’t just use whatever brushes and products you may have on hand, but use a soft toothbrush and toothpaste formulated specifically for dentures. Too firm of a toothbrush will roughen the surface of your dentures and make them more vulnerable to being stained. If you have flexible partial dentures, don’t use a standard toothbrush. Instead, ask your dentist to recommend specialized cleaning agents and a sonic toothbrush that will preserve the sheen and texture of your flexible partial dentures.
