It’s believed that people who have lost some teeth choose to have dentures to restore their confidence and self-esteem. This may be a partial or complete denture.
About 41 million Americans use dentures in 2020, which is forecasted to increase to 42.46 million by 2024.
One of the reasons for this is employment and job security. Many of those who would like to work in the retail and service industry need to be physically presentable, and those who have crooked or damaged teeth are often shunned from receiving job opportunities.
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Many Americans have limited health insurance and often this doesn’t have dental coverage. Most of them don’t want to pay out of their pockets as it could be pricey. If you need quality dentures and excellent service, check out Aria Dental and other dental clinics.
If you have dentures, make sure that you maintain them well to last for a long time, and your oral health will not be compromised. Here are ways that you can do that:
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Clean Your Dentures Daily
Like how you clean your teeth, your dentures require the same care. The only difference with dentures is you have to refrain from using toothpaste; instead, use a non-abrasive denture cleaner and a soft-bristled brush.
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Use The Top Of A Folded Towel When Cleaning Dentures
Unlike natural teeth, that’s considered the most rigid bone in your body; your dentures are pretty breakable. So, when you drop them, they’ll most likely break or suffer from chips and dents. Do your cleaning on top of a thick folded towel to prevent this from happening. A chipped or cracked denture could affect its fit in your mouth or snag on your lips or cheeks, leading to mouth sores.
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Clean Your Mouth Thoroughly After Removing Dentures
It’s recommended that you rinse your dentures after every meal. And when you do have the chance to remove them from your mouth, make sure to rinse your mouth very well. Food particles could stick to the corners of your mouth and be pressed there by your dentures. You may use a soft cloth to clean your tongue, cheeks, and the roof of your mouth with toothpaste, and you may also use mouthwash after.
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Massage Your Gums
Your dentures are anchored on your gums the whole day, and at times, this could lead to gum sores and become painful. When you take off your dental instruments, give your gums a massage to circulate blood flow and stimulate the gum tissue. Massaging your gums will enable nutrient-rich blood to circulate to help fight gum disease and improve overall gum health.
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Soak Your Dentures Overnight
Your mouth needs to have a break from dentures for at least six hours. Most dentists recommend that you take off your dentures before you sleep so your mouth can relax.
During this time, soak your dentures in a denture-soaking solution or warm water overnight. This will ensure that the dentures are kept moisturized and not dry out. Soaking the dentures will also prohibit the growth of bacteria that could lead to many illnesses.
Some denture-soaking solution limits soaking to ten minutes; if that’s the case, it’d be best to soak your dentures in warm water overnight to prevent warping.
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Rinse Your Dentures Well Before Using Them
After being soaked in a denture-soaking solution, rinse your dentures in water very well before wearing them. The solution could contain chemicals that could irritate the soft tissues in your mouth. Some solutions could cause vomiting, pain, and burns when swallowed.
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Avoid Using Hot Water
Your dentures are only allowed to get exposed to warm water periodically. Coming into contact with hot water could cause it to warp and become misshapen. It could be beyond repair when this happens and may need to be replaced.
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Make Sure To Remove All Denture Adhesive
Some people need denture adhesives to ensure a snug fit of their dentures on the gums. When removing the dentures to give your mouth a rest, it’s essential to remove all the adhesive from your mouth using a gargle of saline solution. Denture adhesives contain zinc, and overexposure to zinc could lead to neurological issues, including numbness and problems with balance.
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Meet With Your Dentist Every Six Months
A regular meeting with your dentist or dental prosthetist is essential to your oral health. Your dentist will check your oral tissues and gums and see the fit of your dentures. Not taking care of your dentures could result in poor mouth health that has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Conclusion
Dentures provide someone with incomplete teeth with a temporary solution to function well in society. Confidence and self-esteem are two things that are difficult to achieve if you have physical deficiencies. Your dentures can boost confidence, but not taking care of them could be detrimental to your oral health. Follow the simple tips mentioned above, and you’ll have a great set of pearly whites and excellent oral health.