Dentures are apparatus that are used by people to replace the teeth. They are made to order according to the individual contour of the mouth and are removable. Dentures are an outside object put in the mouth, therefore, not easily acceptable but the wearer usually gets used to it after a little while. It will not be exactly like natural teeth but today the dentures are custom made in such a way that they match all the qualities of natural teeth, and are comfortable to put on.

The aim of the denture is to help the patients to eat, smile and speak naturally. Dentures allow this in addition to give them a better appearance which helps in getting more self confidence. Dentures can be full or partial depending on the need of the individual.

How to clean dentures

Like natural teeth the dentures require good care. to be kept clean. They need to be kept stain free also.

Whenever you eat, food particles tend to remain on your dentures. While chewing, the food particles wedge themselves between palate and dentures. Food also sticks to the plastic surface of the dentures easily. It is vital that this food debris be removed totally to keep dentures clean. To clean them thoroughly they need to be put in soaking water. After each meal, dentures need to be removed and cleaned. The dentures need to be washed in running water to remove food debris and food particles.

Dentures take up more space in the mouth than natural teeth therefore, more likelihood of food sticking to the dentures. Many of the denture wearing individuals have  a problem of bad breadth. The reason is that certain areas of dentures attract more food particles to stick to them. These food particles remain there and become rancid in a matter of hours. These produce bad breadth. To avoid this situation you must rinse the dentures very well after each meal.

Take care of cleanliness in the mouth. Use a soft toothbrush to clean your gums and tongue. Also clean the roof of your mouth and gums.

How to avoid bacterial build up in dentures

Dentures, like natural teeth, need brushing. Brushing your dentures daily is important so that there are no hidden food particles for bacteria to build on. Brush your dentures at least once a day, with fluoride toothpaste.

The food particles stuck on your dentures, get transferred to your gums and make them infected. This appears on the corner of your lips which is referred to as somatitis.

Poor dental hygiene for wearers of dentures also lead to serious health problems such as diabetes, rheumatology and heart diseases.

To be more careful it would be nice to place a towel in the sink to protect them from breaking if you drop them accidentally.

Dentures can be cleaned with a mild soap solution or hand wash. Household cleansers or harsh toothpaste should be avoided. Ultrasonic cleansers available in the market can be used to clean your dentures. The bathtub like cleansers contain a cleaning solution which should be used to immerse the denture in. The soundwaves created in the device which dislodges the food particles stuck on the dentures. This device is only in addition to daily routine of cleaning and brushing the dentures.

Occasionally use deep cleaning solution to remove food particles from dentures.

Taking care of dentures

The dentures are delicate mechanisms which are made of special material and therefore handle them with care. Do not bend or rough handle them.

It is advised that the seal of authorized organizations should be checked before using any product for safety.

While brushing the dentures, take care not to damage bent areas and metal attachments. Do not use abrasive toothpaste which can damage the surface of dentures. Avoid toothpastes that are advertised to whiten your teeth. They don’t work on dentures.

Rinse them before putting them in solution overnight. Avoid using hot water to soak your dentures in. It will misshapen your dentures.

Dentures should be soaked overnight in a solution to keep them from drying out. They need to be moist. Your dentist may have suggested a solution but water can also be used to soak the dentures overnight. If you are using a solution, follow the instruction on the box.

Bleaching products which are advertised to whiten teeth may weaken dentures and change their color. If your dentures have metal attachments, then take care when you soak them. Chlorine in the water can tarnish metal and corrode it.

How to repair dentures

Like all the dental appliances, dentures too need may repair at some point of time, for various reasons. Dentures require repairing when something goes wrong.

1. As time goes by, natural wear and tear occurs to dentures. It is best to go to your dentist for any kind of repair required. Worn down dentures have teeth that no more aligns with lower/ upper teeth because of too much wear and tear, and causes misalignment which results in too much pressure in wrong places which results in breakage.
2. The most common reason for breakage of denture is a poor fit. While chewing, a pressure is applied on the denture, which causes tiny fractures in the denture material. When upper and lower dentures are misaligned, it may result in more pressure in one area than the other. It eventually ends in a large break in need of repair.
3. When the dentures get accidentally dropped, it may result breakage in the teeth area or pink gum line area. The metal clasps in partial dentures also may get damaged by the fall, which requires immediate repair.
4. Relining and revitalizing of dentures are part of wearing dentures. As time goes by, the gum line and jaw bone density changes, they shrink, which results in a misfit. Time and again the dentist has to reline the dentures for a proper fit and to save more damage to gums and bones.
5. The basic material commonly used to make dentures is acrylic resin which is repairable in addition to quite durable and pleasing. So whenever bones recede, the dentist can add more acrylic and vice versa.

If you find any problems of fitting, it is advisable to see the dentist as soon as possible. Regular checkups with the dentist also helps.