Cleaning and brushing dentures should be a routine part of your denture maintenance. For those patients who have removable dentures, there are best practices in the ideal way to keep your dentures clean and bright. Below are are some simple steps on cleaning and brushing dentures.
Step 1: Take the dentures out of your mouth.
Step 2: Brush the dentures as you would normally brush natural teeth; using a toothbrush and toothpaste, brushing the dentures in a circular motion.
Step 3: Brush underneath the denture. Food and debris can become stuck in the ridge, so it is important to loosen any of the food or debris by brushing underneath.
Step 4: Rinse and dry the denture thoroughly.
Step 5: Using water and denture cleaning solution, put the dentures in a dipping bath overnight. Do not wear your dentures during the night as they could loosen in the mouth, causing a person to choke.
Step 6: In the morning take the dentures out of the dipping bath, apply adhesive and place them in your mouth.
Cleaning and brushing dentures is a regular part of dental hygiene for those that wear removable dentures. With a steady routine of cleaning your dentures, your denture experience will be much more pleasing.
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It is important that when you are not wearing your dentures you store them in a denture cleaning solution.
By definition, removable dentures are traditional dentures that are anchored in the mouth by fitting directly over implants or over a bar connected to the implants. For those that have suffered with problems with their bite, removable dentures are often the solution. The removable denture is a wonderful option, however, in order to maintain the health and cleanliness of your mouth, proper care of the denture is critical. Below are the basic steps to denture care:
Handle with Care
Dentures are fragile and should be handled with utmost care. When setting them down, place them on a towel or soft surface. Keep them out of reach of children and away from volatile locations.
Clean Your Teeth
Brushing your dentures is just as important as brushing natural teeth. Brush and clean them daily. There are special brushes that are designed for dentures specifically that are the most effective. Check with your dentist to decide on the best dental cleaner that is ADA approved.
Don’t Let Them Dry Out
When a denture dries out, it can lose its shape. Thus, it is important that when you are not wearing your dentures you store them in a denture cleaning solution. Do not place dentures in hot water.
Keep Them Away From Pets
Animals, especially dogs are attracted to the scent of human saliva. It is common for a dog to pick up a denture and use it as a chew toy.
With proper care of your dentures, you will enhance the durability of your denture and the overall hygiene of your mouth.
The most basic form of dental care has always been brushing. However, the effectiveness of brushing will be dependent on the type of toothbrush you are using. Today, we are going to talk about what I would say is the best toothbrush for the proper care of your teeth.
When we were children learning how to brush, most of us were told that we needed to: brush in circular motions, brush for 2 minutes, and be care not to brush too hard. Following each of these directives can be laborious, thus they are often not followed. For this reason, I’ve found that electric toothbrushes are the better solution. There are several types of electric toothbrushes that are good. However, in our office we’ve grown fond of the Sonicare Flexcare toothbrush and in my opinion that is the best toothbrush. There are other toothbrushes that are excellent, but this is my personal preference. Here’s why:
- It runs on a two minute timer. You simply turn it on and move it around and it will shut off when you are done.
- You don’t have to worry about circular motions. You simply move the brush across the front, back and top of the tooth.
- Because the soft bristles are working for you, you aren’t required to put any pressure on the brush, thus the likelihood of hurting your gums lessens.
- After the first use you will automatically feel the difference in the way your teeth feel. It has excellent cleaning ability.
As with many products, the best toothbrushes are often a bit more expensive; however, the results of thorough brushing have long term benefits in overall dental expenses. And we all know that a person who is looking for a deal, can usually find one. Many of our readers are from out of the Dallas area, so although we do sell Sonicare at our office, there are also many dental offices that sell them or they can be found online.
Do you have a toothbrush that you have been pleased with that you would say is the best toothbrush? Which toothbrush do you use?
The American Dental Association offers tips on increasing oral longevity and caring for your teeth. As you begin the new year, I am going to bullet point some ways for you to care for your teeth.
Brushing
- Brush twice a day.
- Use a soft bristled brush that is approved by the ADA.
- Replace your toothbrush when it frays or every 2-4 months.
- If you have trouble brushing, using an electric toothbrush is also effective.
Flossing
- You can use either dental floss or interdental cleaners.
- Floss once a day.
Water
“Consuming optimally fluoridated water throughout life helps prevent tooth decay no matter how old you are. If you choose bottled water, check the label for fluoride content.”
Dental Visits
Make sure to visit your dentist for all scheduled appointments.
Happy New Year! As you prepare for the New Year, many people are choosing to stop smoking. In an effort to arm you with motivators, we are highlighting the effects of smoking both in dental health and in cosmetic beauty. Many of us are aware of the adverse effect that smoking will have on our overall physical health. However, it’s cosmetic effect on our natural teeth and also on our dental health specifically is extensive. Below we are going to outline the adverse effects of smoking.
Cosmetic Effects
Smoking reduces the production of saliva and saliva is effective in cleaning teeth. Thus, the teeth will begin to be discolored. The discoloration is then increased by the tar that is in tobacco as the residue will linger on the teeth. Also, as smoking increases the risk of periodontal disease increases as well. Smoking is also a cause of chronic bad breath and the loss of teeth.
Health Effects
Saliva is also helpful in preventing tooth decay. Thus, with the lessened production of saliva, tooth decay becomes more rapid. Without the ability to heal itself, all infections in the mouth will worsen.
Infected gums get delayed in healing. Blood flow to the gums is restricted due to smoking. Smoking also diminishes the supply of vital nutrients to the gums. It reduces Vitamin C, which helps the gums to stay healthy. A reduced blood flow and Vitamin C, together delay the treatment of gum diseases in smokers.
As you are planning your New Year’s resolutions, consider giving up smoking and the use of tobacco once and for all. You’ll be glad you did.
In over twenty years of practicing dental care, I have seen patients with both beautiful teeth and patients with teeth that were beyond repair. Often times the problems that patients experience in their mouths and with their teeth and gums could have been avoided with a few simple habits. Thankfully, today’s technology can refresh smiles and improve or even replace the teeth. However, because there are ways to maintain oral health, today’s post is going to focus on three basic tips I’d encourage patients to practice in order to increase the longevity of the teeth and gums of both yourself and those you love.
- Childhood Training
The fight over brushing and flossing before bedtime is never a fun one. However, periodontal disease is a preventable problem that simple brushing and flossing could remedy. Many parents teach their children to brush their teeth, but flossing is not always included – perhaps because the parents themselves aren’t flossing? Training from childhood will build a habit that will help prevent periodontal disease in adulthood.
- Regular Appointments
Regular dental cleanings cannot not be stressed enough. Even the most precise “brusher and flosser” will have areas that have been missed that only professional tools can detect. In addition, yearly x-rays provide a chance for a dentist to locate cavities that can sometimes appear no matter how particular you are in your daily hygiene.
- Health Habits
How you eat will not only affect your physical health, but it will affect your dental health. Maintaining a healthy, smoke-free lifestyle will influence the health of your teeth.
Those are just a few tips on maintaining your oral health.
Dental cleanings are important for everyone, but especially for patients with dental implants. Implants are a valuable investment in long-term oral health and beauty. I encourage patients to protect that investment with professional dental hygiene.
Cleaning Frequency
In the first year following dental implant surgery, you’ll visit my office every three months for a comprehensive cleaning, then every three to six months after that. Why so often? The gum tissue surrounding an implant requires specialized care to maintain optimal health and provide a lasting, protective bond with replacement teeth. In addition, we’ll remove your implant crowns every few years for additional cleaning, then re-attach them. Don’t worry – you’ll never be without teeth outside of our office.
Tools and Technology
The hygienist will use state-of-the-art tools to gently clean your dental implant restorations, as well as your natural teeth. Removing plaque, tartar, and hardened food particles deters decay and prevents gum disease, a destructive bacterial infection that can compromise the longevity of dental implants and lead to decreased oral and overall health.