At Brinkley Dental we’ve been sharing our thoughts on all aspects of dental care for quite some time now. We’ve looked at when to start dental care, early visits to the Dentist with your young children, the role of dental care during pregnancy and even some of the fun and interesting myths about the tooth fairy. More recently, we’ve examined dental health in terms of understanding periodontal disease and dentures. If dentures have become part of your daily routine, let’s talk today about how to care for them properly.
As mentioned in an earlier blog, gone are the days when one has to soak their teeth in a glass on the bedside table. While this is still an important option in certain circumstances, there are actually plenty of ways to care for your teeth (both real and reconstructed) that won’t cost you “an arm and a leg” and that are easily managed as part of your daily dental care routine.
Caring for your dentures might include any of the following:
- Cleaning your teeth every day, just as you would your natural teeth. Plaque and tartar can build up on dentures just as they do with our natural teeth so regular daily care is important.
- Removing them at night as part of your bedtime routine, cleaning in and around the entire appliance and cleaning around and along your gum line as well. You can use a soft, damp cloth, wrapped around your finger, to wipe along the gum line.
- When necessary, (if not nightly, certainly 2 – 3 x per week) soak your dentures overnight to ensure a deep cleansing takes place. You can use commercial cleaners or a mixture of warm water and vinegar. Giving both your gums and the dentures a break from your mouth can help significantly, giving both a rest and a chance to be cleaned fully.
- Rinsing your mouth with a warm salt – water wash is another very effective method of helping keep the mouth free of bacteria.
Cleaners:
- Always use a soft-bristled brush that won’t damage your dentures.
- Soak in warm water only if your dentures have metal clasps, otherwise you can use a solution of warm water and vinegar at a half and half ratio.
- Dentists will recommend simply brushing with a soft-bristled toothbrush using no toothpaste.
- Mild hand soap and even mild dishwashing liquid can also be used.
- Ultrasonic cleaners – you might think that purchasing a special appliance like an ultrasonic cleaning machine is a good idea but this still can’t take the place of regular daily brushing. If you feel the need to use this method, do so in addition to regular cleaning.
- Denture cleansing products. Brinkley Dental certainly wouldn’t encourage you to buy one type of toothpaste over another and the same is true for Denture care. Individual budget and flavour tolerance will play a role in the products you choose. What we do recommend is that you read the label every time and that you ensure you are using a product specifically designed for your type of dental appliance. Those with metal clasps must be treated differently from those without and bleach for example, can lighten the overall colour of your appliance. Take the time to do a bit of research when next at your favourite drug store and be sure you are buying a product that is just right for you…..not what your Grandma used!
The team here at Brinkley is happy to “talk teeth” with you anytime, whether those teeth are real or custom made! As always, we invite you to call or visit us anytime and “don’t forget to be a BFF with your mouth and Brush that SMILE!”
