7 Oral Hygiene Tips for People with Dentures

Tip #1. Soak Your Dentures Every Night Without Exception

Dentures should be soaked at least once per day or evening. This soaking is necessary to eliminate food, bacteria, plaque and other gunk. The soaking should occur with a nonabrasive denture cleanser. Soaking will also help destroy those germs that cause nasty breath.

Tip #2. Brush Your Dentures Each and Every Day

Dentures should be brushed each day regardless of whether you enjoyed three square meals or a few snacks. Dentures will become stained and develop bacteria and tartar just like regular teeth. Your dentures should be rinsed to remove those pesky pieces of food and brushed with a soft-bristled brush or specialized denture brush.

Use warm water and the appropriate cleaning agent to clean your dentures. Do not use bleaching agents during the cleaning process as they can damage your artificial teeth. Scrub in a gentle manner to prevent scraping.

Tip #3. Eat a Balanced Diet

Choose foods that are easy to chew and swallow. Take small bites and refrain from trying to chew through anything especially hard or sticky. Do not attempt to each uber-crunchy foods until you have had your dentures in for a few weeks. Examples of healthy foods that are easy to eat with dentures include yogurt, eggs, fish, ice cream and cooked vegetables.

Tip #4. You and Your Dentures Need a Break

Take your dentures out at night so your mouth can rest. Sleeping with a newly-liberated mouth will provide your oral tissues with an opportunity to take it easy and heal. This is the chance your gums need to rebound from the irritation, pressure and soreness of the dentures.

Tip #5. Remain Hydrated

You might experience slight to moderate dry mouth when wearing your dentures. This dryness will likely cause your gums and mouth to feel irritated. Dry mouth also heightens the chances of decay caused by bacteria.

Dry mouth can cause significant health issues if it goes untreated long enough. The best way to combat dry mouth is to remain adequately hydrated. The rule of thumb is to consume eight ounces of water each day.

Tip #6. There is no Shame in Avoiding Challenging Foods

If you attempt to eat each and every food following the placement of your dentures, you are setting yourself up for failure. Save those difficult-to-eat foods for weeks or months later. That means you should hold off on corn-on-the-cob, cotton candy, chewy meats and other challenging dishes until at least a few weeks go by.

Tip #. Brush the Entirety of Your Mouth Before Placing Your Dentures

Brush your tongue, cheeks, the roof of your mouth and other portions of your mouth each morning prior to putting your dentures in. Your mouth needs this thorough cleaning to eliminate as much bacteria and plaque as possible. This in-depth cleaning will freshen your breath and set the stage for effective dentures throughout the remainder of the day.

For more information or to schedule an appointment with Austin Lakes Dentistry: Scott T Gordon DDS, request an appointment in our Austin dental office here: http://austinlakesdentistry.com. Or call us at (512) 266-1308.