Modern dentures are amazing restorative appliances that have allowed countless patients to enjoy the benefits of having a full smile after extensive tooth loss. While a set of dentures should be remarkably beautiful and comfortable when the patient first receives them, they can develop an unpleasant odor if they do not receive proper care. Here’s how to keep your appliance gorgeous and your breath free from nasty fragrances.
Soak Your Dentures Nightly
While your dentures may be so incredibly comfortable when you first get them that you might be tempted to wear them continuously for days, this is actually a horrible idea. When you wear your dentures, the space between the appliance and your gum tissue becomes exactly the sort of dark, damp, warm, sheltered area that bacteria love, and it can also develop accumulations of food debris that can feed growing colonies of harmful germs. Continuous denture wear can lead to destructive oral infections as well as bad breath.
To prevent this, remove your dentures before bed and carefully clean them with floss, a soft-bristled brush, and a small amount of dish soap, denture cleanser, or non-abrasive toothpaste before soaking them in water or an approved soaking solution. This will give your mouth time to rest and clean itself while keeping your dentures moist so they don’t dry out and warp.
Practice Excellent Oral Hygiene
Brushing, using antibacterial mouthwash, and seeing your dentist regularly are still essential to preserving your oral health even if you have lost every single tooth in your mouth. Brushing your gums, tongue, cheeks, and palate will eliminate accumulations of nasty-smelling plaque and food debris, and antibacterial mouthwash will kill 99% of harmful oral germs on contact and leave your breath minty and fresh.
Dental visits are especially important if you have lost all of your teeth because your dentist is trained and equipped to address oral infections in their early stages, screen for abnormalities like oral cancer, and adjust, repair, or replace your dentures as necessary. They’ll also be happy to answer any oral hygiene questions you may have during your appointment.
About the Author
Dr. Joshua A. Holcomb earned his dental degree at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Dentistry and completes more than a hundred hours of continuing education annually. He is also proud to be a faculty club member of Spear Education. His office in Collierville offers general, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency dentistry as well as denture services. To learn more about proper denture care, contact his office online or dial (901) 850-0300.