Dentures are a type of removable replacement for missing teeth. You can have a full or partial set of dentures, depending on how many missing teeth you have. The soft and hard tissues in the mouth and bonding materials support most conventional dentures, but there are some dentures that connect to other teeth or dental implant structures.
Unlike dental implants, dentures require a particular care routine that is unlike the average daily oral care routine. With implants, you can brush, floss, and mouthwash your teeth like normal, but that is not the case with dentures. Mimicking a typical dental routine could damage or destroy your dentures.
The materials that make dentures are not as durable as your natural teeth or dental implants. This means that you have to go through a particular routine in order to care for them. Most dentures are made of acrylic resin, making them susceptible to scratches or other types of damage. Some dentures are made of porcelain, making them more durable, but acrylic resin dentures are stronger.
No Harsh or Abrasive Chemicals
Using harsh or abrasive materials on your dentures could damage them. For example, even some kinds of toothpaste or hard-bristled toothbrushes can leave tiny scratches on your dentures. Scratches can become breeding grounds for bacteria and increase your chances of infection or gum disease.
Using bleaching or whitening chemicals on your dentures is not recommended. The teeth fixtures in your teeth cannot whiten or change colors, so whitening chemicals won’t alter them. Consequently, these chemicals can weaken your dentures or the fixtures used to fasten them to your mouth.
No Hot Water
You should never use hot water to clean your dentures. Plastic is the most common material in dentures, which means that hot water can warp the shape. If the shape of your dentures becomes warped, they will not fit properly in your mouth nor will they work efficiently or at all.
Ill-fitting dentures can create many problems for your health. For example, your gums can become irritated if your dentures don’t sit properly. Irritation of your gums can produce scratches or even bleed over time. In addition, any time you have an open wound, even if it is small, you are at risk of developing an infection.
A warped set of dentures can alter your bite if you have natural teeth, making it uneven. You could even loosen or damage your existing teeth, which could cause you to lose more teeth.
Keep Them Moist
For your dentures to maintain their shape, you must keep them moist. You shouldn’t sleep in your dentures, so they will be out of your mouth for an extended period of time. While you sleep, you should submerge your dentures in water or in a denture-soaking solution.
If you use a solution other than water, you need to rinse your dentures before placing them back in your mouth. Most soaking solutions are not safe for human consumption, and they may cause chemical burns or induce vomiting.