If you have dentures, you will agree that these removable, custom-made dental prostheses don’t just replace your missing teeth. They also restore your ability to eat a wider variety of foods, improve your speech, and regain confidence and beauty in your smile. However, like natural teeth, you need to keep them clean to ensure they remain in optimal condition and serve their purpose effectively.
At Sheema Zaim DMD LTD, we offer the best, most affordable, and comfortable dentures in Oak Park near Chicago, IL to restore our patients’ smiles. We understand the ins and outs of dental replacement with dentures, dental implants, dental crowns, and bridges. To that end, we have created this post to show you why it is important to clean your dentures and how to keep them clean to maintain your oral health.
Why Is It So Important To Clean Your Dentures?
Cleaning your dentures is important for several significant reasons:
1. Maintaining Oral Health
Proper cleaning prevents the buildup of bacteria, plaque, and tartar, which can lead to gum disease, oral infections, and other health issues. Unkempt dentures can also cause irritation and inflammation in the areas of the mouth they come into contact with.
2. Preventing Stains and Odors
Regular cleaning helps to eliminate food particles and plaque, preventing the dentures from becoming stained or developing an unpleasant odor. Regular cleaning is essential for maintaining the appearance of the dentures and ensuring your breath stays fresh.
3. Durability and Functionality
Cleaning dentures appropriately and regularly can extend their lifespan, ensuring they function effectively for a longer period. Dirty or damaged dentures can become uncomfortable to wear and may not function as well as they should, impacting your ability to eat and speak normally.
4. Comfort
Well-maintained and clean dentures are more comfortable to wear as they can prevent gum irritation and infection, ensuring a better fit and preventing sore spots.
5. Preventing Oral Infections
Properly cleaned dentures help reduce the risk of oral infections such as thrush, a common issue for denture wearers that can cause discomfort and other health complications.
6. Aesthetic Appeal
Clean dentures maintain their aesthetic appeal, ensuring your smile stays bright and natural-looking. Stained or dirty dentures can be unattractive and make you self-conscious while speaking, eating, or smiling.
How Often Should You Clean Your Dentures?
Treating your dentures like you would your natural teeth is essential. Try as much as you can to keep them clean so you don’t have any fungal and bacterial infections, inflamed gums, or lose more teeth. Dr. Sheema Zaim, your reliable Oak Park dentist often recommends cleaning your dentures at least once daily and after meals as necessary.
What Happens To Your Dentures If You Don’t Clean Them?
Neglecting to clean your dentures regularly can have several adverse effects on your comfort, oral hygiene, and overall health. Food particles and bacteria (plaque) can accumulate on your dentures, making them smell bad, causing stains, or leading to mouth infections like denture stomatitis, a condition characterized by inflammation and redness in the underlying gum tissues. Over time, the accumulated plaque can harden into tartar, making the dentures uncomfortable. It can also cause the dentures to fit poorly by damaging their structure, impacting your ability to eat and speak comfortably and confidently.
Proper denture maintenance is crucial to ensuring their longevity and maintaining your oral health to keep your smile beautiful. It also helps to prevent unnecessary expenses and inconveniences related to denture repair or replacement. Your health, comfort, and smile are invaluable. That is why we recommend making denture care an essential routine.
4 Steps To Take To Keep Your Dentures Clean
Follow the steps below to learn how to clean your dentures safely and effectively.
1. Remove & Brush Your Dentures
Like natural teeth, dentures need daily brushing to remove food particles, plaque, and other deposits, thus preventing staining and oral health issues. Remove and clean your dentures daily using a non-abrasive cleanser, a soft-bristle toothbrush, or a brush designed specifically for dentures. Be sure to clean each part of your dentures, brushing gently to avoid damaging or scratching the surfaces. Using a soft-bristled toothbrush, clean your natural teeth, cheeks, tongue, and the roof of your mouth. If you apply denture adhesive, clean the grooves that sit against your gums to eliminate any leftover adhesive. Avoid using denture cleaning agents directly in your mouth.
2. Remove and Rinse After Eating
After each meal, remove and rinse your dentures with clean water to eliminate food particles and other loose debris. This simple step removes food particles and prevents stains and bacteria buildup. However, you may want to fill the sink with water or place a towel in the sink or on your bathroom countertop so your dentures won’t break if you accidentally drop them.
3. Soak Your Dentures Overnight
Most dentures need to stay moist to retain their shape. Moreover, soaking your dentures overnight eliminates more than 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria, effectively managing their growth. This practice ensures your mouth remains healthy and free from unpleasant odors.
Place your dentures in water or a mild denture-cleaning solution overnight. If you use a denture-cleaning solution, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions or your dentist’s recommendations for the amount and soaking time.
After soaking, rinse the dentures thoroughly under warm running water before wearing them again. This is especially important if you use a denture-soaking solution, as these solutions can contain harmful chemicals that can irritate your mouth. After cleaning, inspect the dentures for any leftover debris or damage. Repeat the process or consult your dentist if you notice any issues or your dentures don’t feel clean.
4. Schedule Regular Checkups With Your Dentist
Regular checkups for dentures are crucial to ensure they fit properly, function optimally, and don’t cause irritation or other oral issues. During your visits, your dentist will examine your mouth to determine its health and ensure your dentures fit correctly to avoid any movement or discomfort. They will also recommend how often you should visit to examine and professionally clean your dentures. If your dentures start to loosen, it’s crucial to consult your dentist without delay. Loose dentures can lead to sores, irritation, and infections.
Restore Your Missing Teeth With Our Dentures in Oak Park Near Chicago
Looking to replace your missing or damaged teeth and restore your confidence in your smile? Sheema Zaim DMD LTD offers the best, most affordable, and comfortable dentures in Oak Park near Chicago, IL to restore your dental functions and help you rediscover the confidence that comes with a healthy and beautiful smile. We also offer other dental replacement options like dental implants, bridges, and crowns to give you the smile of your dreams.
If your dentures are loose, stained, or damaged, or you have an oral health issue caused by ill-fitting dentures, Dr. Sheema Zaim, our dentist in Oak Park, can provide the unique care you need. Schedule an appointment with us today to examine your mouth and determine the best treatment to preserve your smile.
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