Whitening for Life with Your Denture Care

Dentures are used to replace missing teeth that can be taken out and put back into your mouth. There are generally two types of dentures available: complete dentures and partial dentures. The type that is needed can be determined by your dentist. Typically complete dentures are used to replace all teeth and partial dentures are used when you still have some of your natural teeth in place. Dentures are employed so that patients who suffer from tooth loss because of periodontal disease (gum disease), tooth decay, or traumatic injury don’t have to suffer the negative effects of not having teeth. Besides the obvious reason of eating, replacement teeth are needed so that remaining teeth do not shift and so that a sagging facial appearance does not give the impression of making one appear older than they are. If you have dentures then you know that taking proper care of them will mean avoiding repairs that can be a bit costly says Whitening for Life. You will soon become used to the schedule and caring for your dentures will be just another thing that you do.

Brush Dentures Daily

The proper care of dentures is also important because your overall oral health depends in large part on it. Taking care of them is simple and it is best if you make it a routine. Brushing your dentures daily is just as important as brushing your teeth points out Whitening for Life. Do not forget to take care of your gums, palate and tongue. If you have a clean mouth your dentures will be much easier to clean. This should be done the moment you take your dentures out at night; every night. To brush them properly do so with a soft bristled tooth brush and make sure to remove the stains and any food that may have gotten lodged in the dentures. You can also use mild soap to brush your dentures, but there is a chance that there will be a mild soapy taste when you use your dentures the next day. Overnight soaking can kill 99.9 percent of denture germs -Pharmacy shelves are lined with denture cleaning options, from all-natural soaking solutions to high-end ultrasonic devices. It’s easy for denture wearers to think one cleaning option is as effective as the next, and therefore choose the fastest or least expensive one. But fast may not be best.

Whitening for Life with Your Denture Care

Denture Adjustment Period

Naturally a new set of teeth will take some adjusting and adapting for feel, eating, and speaking. Initially the dentures may feel a little odd or loose for a few weeks until the muscles of your cheek and tongue learn to keep them in place and you get comfortable inserting and removing them. It is common for minor irritation or soreness to occur and for saliva flow to increase when you first start wearing dentures, but these problems will diminish as your mouth adjusts to the new denture. Learning to eat with new dentures also takes a little practice and wearers may experience a few weeks of an uncomfortable adjustment period, suggests Whitening for Life. Your dental hygienist will most likely recommend that you start eating soft foods cut into small pieces as you grow accustomed to eating with dentures. After the initial adjustment period you can go back to eating whatever it is you like as part of your normal diet. There are however, some foods that you may want to avoid such as hot or hard foods and sharp-edged bones or shells. You may also want to avoid foods that are extremely sticky such as gum or chewy candies. Some patients have experienced difficulty pronouncing certain words. This is normal and takes a little practice to learn to speak properly with dentures. If the speaking problem persists then you should consult your dentist. Additionally if you experience irregular periods of discomfort, you should contact your dentist for assistance with your dentures. Your dentures may require repositioning as they may occasionally slip when you laugh, cough, or smile. Any clicking noises that come from your dentures should be addressed immediately by your dentist.

While You Are Not Wearing Them

You will not necessarily keep your dentures in the entire day, but for those times when you remove them you should also make sure that you keep them soaked. To soak your dentures is probably the easiest way to care for them, simply soak them in water; if your dental hygienist recommends a cleaning solution then you should probably do that too. Keep a cup and the solution (or water) next to your bed so you can have easy access to it at night. Do not use hot water because it can lead to distortions of the dentures. Whitening for Life wants you to know that dentures that are not kept moist at all times will lose shape and depending on the amount of time they will dry out. Small damages to your dentures are better repaired by your dentist, so avoid repair kits that claim that you can repair them yourself. Too many people try and end up damaging the dentures beyond repair. Appointments are very important to take care of your oral health and dentures. If you feel minor pains the first time you wear your dentures make an appointment to correct them. Such pains are common but they can be easily corrected by your dentist.