3 Easy Ways to Accidentally Ruin Your Dentures
With proper care, your new dentures can last for about five years, but if you're not careful, they could meet an untimely end. Your dentures can be ruined in many ways, and if this happens, you'll need to replace them earlier than you otherwise would've had to. Here are three easy ways that you could accidentally ruin your dentures.
You let them dry out overnight
Your dentures shouldn't be worn 24 hours a day. Your dentures put pressure on your gum tissue and jawbone, and this pressure can speed up bone loss, which can negatively affect the fit of your dentures. Plus, wearing your dentures all night can contribute to oral infections like thrush or discomfort like gum inflammation.
When you take your dentures out, don't just sit them on your bedside table. Your dentures could dry out overnight, and this can damage them. Dried-out dentures can warp, and this means that they won't fit well any more. They can also crack if they get dried out.
To protect your dentures while you sleep, make sure they stay moist. You can store your dentures in a glass of water, in a glass of denture soaking solution, or in a denture box filled with either water or a soaking solution. A denture box is a closed container that helps to protect your dentures from damage during the night. If you tend to thrash around during your sleep and are worried that you'll knock your dentures onto the floor, a denture box is a great solution.
You scrub them with harsh toothpastes
Food, plaque and microorganisms build up on your dentures, just like they used to build up on your natural teeth, so it's important to brush your dentures every day. However, you shouldn't use toothpaste to clean your dentures. Most toothpastes contain abrasive ingredients, like silica, that help to prevent stains on natural teeth, but these abrasive particles can leave unsightly scratches on your dentures.
Instead of using toothpaste, choose a non-abrasive cleaner for your denture cleaning needs. Surprisingly, dishwashing liquid is a good cleaner for dentures. You've already got this product in your home, and it's not abrasive. Commercial denture-cleaning pastes and powders are also available. These products still have some abrasive particles to help get your dentures clean, but they're designed to be less abrasive than toothpastes that are designed for natural teeth.
You drop them in the sink
You need to take your dentures out of your mouth to brush them, and these tooth brushing sessions represent a potentially dangerous time for your dentures! If you lose your grip on your dentures, you could drop them in your sink, and when they hit the hard porcelain, they could crack or break. If your dentures break after getting dropped, they'll need to be professionally repaired; you can't glue them back together at home.
To avoid this horrible situation, protect your dentures from damaging falls while you're brushing them. There are many different ways you can do this. One easy option is to fill your sink with water and brush your dentures over the full sink. If you drop your dentures, they'll fall into the deep water, which will cushion their fall and hopefully keep them from breaking. If you're trying to conserve water, placing a towel or cloth in the bottom of your sink is another way to cushion your denture's fall.
To enjoy your dentures for years to come, you need to take good care of them. For more information or assistance with your dentures or other oral health issues, just contact local clinics like Willowdaile Family Dentistry.