Dentures are a vital part of the every day lives of many adults. Often referred to as false teeth or a plate, dentures help give a more youthful appearance to those who have no teeth and help with speach and chewing food as well. A complete denture replaces all the teeth on either the top or bottom or both. A partial denture replaces missing teeth with some teeth remaining in the mouth.
Dentures need to be cared for as you should teeth. They should be rinsed after eating if you are not able to brush them. Using a soft bristle brush with denture cleaner will help preserve the denture and keep it in the best condition possible. You may use a mild hand or dish soap to clean your denture, however, avoid using toothpaste and other household cleansers as they may be too abrasive. This can cause small scratches in the tooth or acrylic material allowing bacteria to become trapped.
Many people choose to wear their denture or partial all day and then take them out at bed time. That is a good idea as it gives the tissue inside of the mouth a chance to "breathe". Continue to brush the gums, tongue and roof of your mouth every day with a soft bristled brush and a mild toothpaste if you wish. When you remove the denture make sure that you store it in a container with water to avoid drying the denture out. Also remember that dogs love to chew on dentures so if you live with a Rex, Rover or Fido make sure that you are storing it up out of their reach as well.
Many people with dentures are under the false impression that once they have dentures there is no need to return to the dentist, however, it should still be a very important part of your life. Your jaw bones and gums can shrink up to 1/32 of an inch per year when your teeth are missing. You should plan on having your dentures and oral tissues evaluated once a year and your dentist should do an oral cancer screening, checking the mouth for sores and bumps that should not be there. This yearly exam will let us know when relining or rebasing your denture is necessary. Wearing ill-fitting dentures for too long without refitting can cause severe bone loss and very serious oral disease. Even dentures that "fit" comfortably need to be evaluated and replaced, usually after 5-10 years. Smiles, Holly
