It's Time For Dentures: How To Care For Your New Dentures And Your Mouth

If you've lost your teeth prematurely, due to illness, decay, or gum disease, you'll need to replace them with either dentures or dental implants. You might not realize this, but leaving your mouth without teeth can cause your facial structure to change dramatically. Dentures and dental implants can help you retain your natural appearance even after you lose your permanent teeth. Implants and dentures can also improve your smile and will allow you to continue eating properly. If your dentist has decided that dentures will be a better option for you, it's important that you know how to care for your new dentures. The suggestions provided below will help keep your dentures, and your mouth healthy and clean:

Check for Sores in Your Mouth

Once you start wearing dentures, you may notice that they rub up against certain areas of your mouth. In most cases, the rubbing can be alleviated by having your dentures adjusted to adapt to the changing shape of your mouth. However, you may develop painful sores under your dentures, and on the inside of your mouth where the dentures rub. Those sores can become quite painful, and they can become infected if not cared for properly. If you do develop sores in your mouth, you'll need to be seen by your dentist for treatment. To get treatment quickly, it's a good idea to inspect your mouth at least once a week. If you notice painful areas in your mouth, you should check for sores on a daily basis.

Use the Right Cleaning Materials

You might not realize this, but your dentures can get scratched and damaged through improper handling. You might already know that your dentures can break if they're dropped on a hard surface, such as the sink or the floor. However, you might not realize that they can also be damaged by using abrasive cleansers, and stiff brushes on them. Using abrasive cleansers and stiff brushes on them can create small scratches in the surface, which can make your dentures wear out faster. Instead of using abrasive cleansers and stiff brushes on your dentures, use mild cleansers instead.

Have Them Replaced

Dentures are not designed to last forever. In fact, they'll need to be replaced from time to time. Each time you visit your dentist, they'll clean your dentures and inspect them for signs of damage. Your dentist will also let you know when it's time to replace them. If you've had your dentures for more than about 8 years, you should start talking to your dentist about replacements.