5 Things to Know About Denture Hygiene

Lost or fallen teeth are everyone’s biggest cosmetic nightmare. Whether it’s just one or many teeth, it can completely alter your smile and negatively affect your appearance as a whole, considering the smile is often one of the first features others will notice about you. And while it might leave a huge dent in your confidence, your dentist can offer you a number of different solutions. Depending on the location, the number of teeth, and how your tooth (or teeth) was damaged, things like dental implants, crowns, bridges, and dentures can help restore your smile as well as your confidence. At Pleasant Care Dental, Dr. Rakesh Khilwani is the foremost dentures specialist in New York. Over the years he has used dentures to help countless individuals get their natural, bright vibrant smile back – giving them the confidence they need to get through the rigors of daily life. As a top dentures specialist, Dr. Khilwani is able to provide patients with a replacement that is not only strong, and functional, but looks just as good as a natural set of teeth. While you might think of dentures being exclusive to the elderly, they are actually the ideal replacement option for many patients, regardless of age! And despite being fairly common, many patients, even those that use dentures, are unaware of the proper care and maintenance that they require – especially for them to look and function at their best. Here are Dr. Khilwani’s 5 important tips to keeping your dentures clean and free of bacteria.

· How to Clean Your Dentures

One of the most important things to know about dentures is that they require regular cleaning. While many assume that because they are not natural teeth, they don’t require as much brushing or cleaning, this is completely false. It is actually vital that you clean your dentures just as much as you would natural teeth, if not more. Just as normal teeth would, dentures can accumulate food, dirt, and bacteria that may develop into infections and cause gum disease. As the top dentures specialist, Dr. Khilwani recommends patients clean their dentures at least twice per day to prevent any decay, or infections that may even cause you to lose more teeth. Carefully remove any food or debris by brushing them normally but use specially designed denture cleaning paste. Then soak your dentures in a denture cleaning solution. And then brush them again one more time, as you normally would. This will help prevent them from decaying or getting damaged. Every few months or years, depending on how dirty or stained they have become, you may want to also consider having them professionally cleaned – a common service that any dentist can help you find.

· Certain Behaviors Can Damage Your Dentures

When you have dentures, you may need to make certain lifestyle changes to prevent them from getting damaged or decaying over time. Avoid drinking too many caffeinated beverages, mainly strong coffee or tea, and soda. Also, too much red wine can stain your dentures as well.

· Nighttime Routine

You might have seen a grandparent soak their dentures overnight, or maybe someone from your favorite television show – but this is very important. Leaving them in overnight can cause inflammation and spread infections, like a special form of yeast infection known as denture stomatitis. Leave them soaking in a suitable denture cleaning solution by your bedside, make sure not to use overly warm or cold water – room temperature is fine.

· Make Sure to Use the Right Products

For some individuals with sensitive teeth and gums, dentures can be made to have a soft lining. These dentures require a specially designed cleaner that will specifically state that it will not damage this lining. A normal solution may cause this lining to warp or fall apart. Also, for those individuals with metal dentures, you will need to look into a cleaning solution that specifically for cleaning metal. This should not be hard to find, and they will definitely be labeled accordingly. However, as a dentures specialist one of the biggest issues Dr. Khilwani finds is his patients using bleach products to clean their dentures. This is a huge mistake, as bleach is known to severely weaken and damage your dentures and their outer lining – making them far more susceptible to damage, decay and stains – making them look far less natural over time.

· Visit the Dentist

One of the most important aspects of denture up-keep is going to the dentist. They will be able to help you keep them clean and functional, while also recommending certain cleansers and solutions. In addition, many patients will need their dentures to be resizes or re-fit over the years. If your dentures do not fit properly, this can cause mouth sores to develop.

For those in need of an oral replacement, dentures might be the perfect option, regardless of your age. And with proper care and up-keep they can look as good as your normal teeth without anyone ever knowing the difference! For more information or to schedule an oral care appointment, contact Dr. Khilwani and the team at Pleasant Care Dental Today.