Dentures can be fixed or removable. Both types allow to restore essential aspects in the life of a person. Therefore, it’s fundamental to know which is the best technique to clean removable dentures so as to ensure they last as long as possible.
Dentures are artificial structures that replace lost teeth and they can be fixed or removable. While those who are permanently fixed to the oral cavity can be cleaned as if they were natural teeth, the removable ones require thorough hygiene. Both types allow to restore essential aspects in the life of a person such as, talking, mastication, swallowing, occlusion and aesthetics. Therefore, it’s fundamental to know which is the best technique to clean removable dentures so as to ensure they last as long as possible.
Adaptation period
Although it may not have an apparent relation, patients getting used to the prosthesis affects its hygiene.
It’s very important the person feels comfortable using his removable denture, whatever its type. Therefore, he should go through an adaptation period during which it’s possible that the dentist needs to perform a series of adjustments until the prosthesis adapts to the patient’s mouth.
If the denture isn’t correctly set, it will move and provoke gum irritation, causing mouth sores or even a dental epulis.
Besides, food debris will tend to accumulate in the whole left between the prosthesis and the gum or natural teeth. Therefore, it won’t only feel discomfort, but also it will favour bacteria growth, followed by bad breath and periodontal diseases (gingivitis and periodontitis)
Why do I have to clean my removable dentures?
In the same way that a poor fit favours bacterial growth, not cleaning your dentures properly also leads to negative consequences. Therefore, when the patient brings his removable denture, it’s very important that he knows how to clean it, how frequently he should do it and which are the most recommended products.
In this way, we will not only manage to keep our denture free of bacteria, but also it will last many years in good conditions, both its function and aesthetics. When the denture is new, its surface will be clean and smooth but with use it gets in contact with food, coffee and tobacco which gradually deteriorates it.
Tips on how to clean your removable dentures at home
The correct method to clean a removable prosthesis, like a denture, it’s very simple and it is done with products that can be easily acquired in pharmacies.
Besides, it’s easy to carry out either if you are at home or away.
After every meal, we recommend to do what follows:
- Remove the prosthesis carefully
- Brush your denture with a special brush for dental prosthesis using water and neutral soap.
Clean thoroughly all areas, even its pink parts as well as the metallic ones, if it has it.
- Dry your prosthesis very well and store it in its box. Have in mind that if you keep it wet, it may favour microbial growth.
- Brush your teeth normally, regardless of the numbers of teeth you have.
Added to this, to ensure your denture is completely clean, we advise you to add one more step to your daily hygiene routine before you go to sleep.
The best thing to do is that you leave it in a glass of water and to dissolve a special tablet to clean your dental prosthesis.
There are different trademarks that sell these kinds of tablets, you can use whichever you like the most.
However, it’s important that you learn all the details about its use, since, depending on the trademarks, you may need a few hours or all night to dissolve them.
Any doubt you have, you can resolve them at Top Dental or at your pharmacy. ¡We will be waiting you!
0 Comments