Do you have dentures? Then it is very important that you clean your dentures very well. But how can you best maintain dentures? What can you use to clean your dentures? Fortunately we have the answer! Read on below.
How to clean dentures?
Cleaning dentures is very important, because just like our natural teeth, plaque can also form. If the plaque is not removed, the dentures can no longer look so radiant and white. It is therefore important to brush your dentures daily with a denture brush and soak it daily in a cleaning solution to prevent odors.
Below is a step-by-step explanation of how best to clean your dentures.
1. It is best to clean your dentures over a sink full of water. This is the best thing to do, because it can prevent damage if you accidentally drop your dentures.
2. After that it is important that you rinse your dentures thoroughly with water to remove the remaining food residues.
3. Use a denture cleanser. (Conventional toothpaste, vinegar, bleach and soap are not intended for cleaning dentures, in some cases they can cause damage. Dentures with scratches can easily accumulate sticky bacteria, which can cause an unpleasant odor. More aggressive products such as bleach can even cause the pink areas of your dentures to turn white.)
4. You can then gently clean the entire surface of your dentures with a wet denture brush (Note: not a soft-bristle toothbrush). If you brush too hard, the metal parts or plastics can be damaged. Then rinse and brush with clean water.
5. Also your own gums, tongue and the existing teeth should also be brushed with a toothpaste where fluoride is present. You do this before you put your dentures back in. This removes the plaque from your teeth and keeps your mouth fresh and healthy.
6. After brushing, rinse your mouth with mouthwash for a fresh taste.
Why do I have to clean my dentures?
Your dentures are exposed to saliva & food every day. In the mouth it can also be nice and warm and moist, this is a perfect place for bacteria to multiply. If you do not keep your dentures and mouth clean, you may experience an unpleasant odor. These are the main reasons why you should regularly clean your dentures:
- You can suffer from inflamed gums due to poor oral hygiene in the mouth.
- The bacteria and food residues cause unpleasant odors in the mouth, which can lead to bad breath.
- Food residues and bacteria form plaque on the dentures. This ensures that your dentures can feel sticky.
- In people who have a partial porthese, the bacteria and food residues can affect the enamel of the remaining teeth, which can cause cavities (caries).
- Certain foods such as; tea & red wine can easily adhere to the surface of the dentures. If the prosthesis is not cleaned daily, the dentures may discolour over time. You can also get a discolored prosthesis if you smoke, this will cause your prosthesis to have brown / black spots.
It is therefore important that you provide good oral hygiene to avoid these annoying problems. Cleaning your mouth and dentures daily is therefore a necessity.
Resources you should not use
Above, in step 3, I have mentioned a number of examples of which resources you absolutely should not use. The use of alcohol and solvents for cleaning is strongly discouraged. In addition, it is very important to never remove dirt with scissors, files, abrasives or sharp nails. This ensures that the prosthesis is damaged. Also very hot water is not recommended, because this can cause the prosthesis to deform, so that it no longer fits well. The use of bleach is also absolutely not recommended, this can cause the synthetic resin to be affected.
Effervescent tablets
It may happen that you suffer from brown deposits on your dental prosthesis, you may consider using effervescent tablets.
Note that the effervescent tablets can have the same effect as toothpaste, so use them in moderation.
After that, make sure to rinse your prosthesis thoroughly.
Denture brush
There are special denture brushes have been developed for cleaning dentures. These can also get into the narrow spaces and ensure very good cleaning.
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