Are you interested in dentures but want to know more about upkeep before treatment? We’re here to help. Our dental office provides implant-supported and traditional dentures in our Lincoln Park, IL office. It’s important to know how to care for your dentures to ensure that they last as long as possible. Keeping dentures clean can also prevent infections in the gums or any remaining natural teeth. Learn the best ways to maintain and clean your smiles for years of good oral health.
Caring for Dentures in Lincoln Park, IL
There are many different ways to care for dentures, depending on the type of denture. Knowing how to handle dentures and clean your dentures safely can prevent damage to the denture or decay in the gum tissue or remaining teeth:
Traditional Dentures
Removable, traditional dentures use adhesives to stay in place. These dentures stick to the gums but may be removed at night. You can remove the adhesive with a soft-bristled toothbrush, water, and mild soap. Because traditional dentures are removable, patients can clean their dentures with a denture soak. When handling dentures, hold them over a sink or towel to prevent dropping or damaging them.
Implant-Supported Dentures
We can incorporate dental implants to secure dentures in the mouth. Dental implants are titanium posts that fuse with the jaw bone to create stable, lasting restorations. Some implant-secured dentures may be removed, but others are fixed, meaning patients do not need to remove their dentures.
As with traditional dentures, removable implant dentures must be cleaned and soaked in denture cleaner. Fixed implant dentures do not require soaking. Instead of removing their dentures, patients can brush their false teeth just like natural teeth. Using a soft-bristled brush and non-abrasive toothpaste can prevent wear or damage to the false teeth.
Denture Maintenance Tips
Follow these tips to ensure that you maintain your traditional or implant-supported dentures:
- Do not sleep with removable dentures in your mouth.
- Avoid toothpaste with harsh abrasives like charcoal.
- Do not try to whiten dentures–this can discolor the restoration.
- Call the dentist if you damage your dentures, do not try to fix them yourself.
- Use the proper amount of denture adhesive.
If you ever encounter any problems like mouth sores, discomfort, or ill-fitting dentures, contact us as soon as possible. We will examine your restoration and your smile and create a new restoration if it is required. Sometimes a gum infection can impact the denture. We can provide periodontal therapy to restore gum health and ensure that dentures remain stable.
Do you have any more questions about caring for your dentures? Please call our office today at (773) 549-2881. You can also schedule a dental appointment at Gayed Dental online.