Important Facts About Dentures

Dentures can offer excellent relief and a new lease of life for those who have lost all or some of their teeth, but there are many misconceptions about them. If you’re expecting to have dentures in the near future or have recently been fitted with some, be sure to read these five lesser-known facts about dentures.

You should clean dentures as often as you clean your real teeth

Although dentures won’t deteriorate like real teeth if left uncleaned, they can cause other oral health problems if not properly taken care of. Oral infections and inflamed gums are common problems caused by dirty dentures, and if you only have partial dentures then failure to clean them frequently could contribute to decay of your real teeth.

The best way to clean your dentures is to brush away food residue, before soaking them with a specialist denture cleaner. Avoid using hot water, as this could warp the dentures. After soaking, give the dentures another quick, gentle brush to completely remove any lasting traces of bacteria.

They can become stained

Just like real teeth, dentures can become stained by tea, coffee, and red wine if you drink these things frequently. Smoking can also lead to denture staining. To preserve your set of pearly white dentures for as long as possible, minimize your consumption of staining drinks and, if you’re a smoker, consider quitting. Tobacco use can also contribute to gum disease and mouth cancer, so there will be lots of benefits to your oral health when you wave goodbye to cigarettes.

Your dentures should be comfortable

It’s not normal to put up with pain from dentures, or to have them move around in your mouth rather than staying securely in place. Unfortunately, many people think a little discomfort is a normal aspect of wearing dentures, but there’s no need to put up with it. If, for example, you have very sensitive gums, you can choose dentures with soft linings to prevent irritation. By choosing a dental practice that has plenty of experience in dentures and partial dentures, you can ensure that you get professional advice and a set of dentures that fits perfectly and doesn’t cause you pain.

Home repairs to dentures are just not worth it

There are lots of over-the-counter denture repair kits on the market, but ultimately they often only cause additional damage. Once your dentures have become damaged, they will begin to weaken and will only deteriorate further, making professional repairs even more difficult.

You should have frequent checkups for dentures

It is vital that you continue to have frequent dental examinations, even if you’re wearing a full set of dentures. These checkups allow the dentist to check for damage to your dentures, for tartar buildup, and any other oral health problems which need to be professionally treated.

Got any more questions or worries about your dentures? Ask a professional – get in touch with Heflin Family Dentistry today for more information about our Albuquerque partial dentures and other cosmetic dentistry services!