If you have recently lost one or all of your teeth, you may consider dentures as a replacement option. Dentures are prosthetic replacements for teeth. Typically, both the soft and hard tissues of the mouth support dentures. Generally, you can remove dentures easily and often. However, there are types of dentures that attach to any remaining natural teeth or implant structures.
There are two types of dentures: partial and complete. If you have no remaining teeth, you will use complete dentures. When you imagine the look of dentures, you probably think of complete dentures. However, if you still have some natural teeth, you will likely use partial dentures. Partial dentures utilize natural teeth to stay in place. Another name for partial dentures is a bridge. The dentures will bridge the gap between your missing teeth and your remaining natural teeth.
There are numerous replacement options, including dentures. However, they all have different care instructions. Dentures are much different than natural teeth. This means that they have different care instructions that you must follow to ensure a proper fit. It is vital to keep your dentures as clean and healthy as possible because poorly fitting dentures can cause pain, sores, or infections. Additionally, they may make it impossible for you to chew your food or speak properly.
Avoid Harsh Chemicals
When cleaning your dentures, it can be tempting to use harsh materials to achieve a deep clean. However, harsh chemicals or abrasives can significantly damage your dentures. In addition, you shouldn’t use any products that contain bleach. While you may feel that this cleans them properly, you can weaken the structure of the dentures and corrode the metal.
When caring for dentures, you must use non-abrasive cleaning products, including toothbrushes and toothpaste. Try gently using a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove food particles from your dentures. You should avoid certain kinds of toothpaste, especially those that contain abrasives or peroxide for whitening.
You should never use hot water to clean or soak your dentures. This is because hot water will warp the shape and structure of your dentures. Unfortunately, you will be unable to wear your dentures properly once warped. Ill-fitting dentures can cause sores, infection, and pain.
Soak Dentures Overnight
Dentures need to be soaked overnight to keep their shape and maintain proper working condition. You can soak your dentures in water. However, there are several denture-soaking solutions that you can use. It is important to rinse your dentures before placing them in your mouth. If you use a soaking solution, you don’t want those chemicals in your mouth.
You should never sleep in your dentures, which is why they need to soak. The soft and hard tissues in your mouth need a break from your dentures. If you wear them for long periods of time, you can experience pain or even bone loss. In addition, you can increase your chances of developing pneumonia by sleeping in your dentures. You can breathe in the bacteria that builds on your dentures, causing infection and pneumonia in your lungs.