Dentists often recommend dentures for those with missing or damaged teeth to restore your smile and ability to speak and chew with ease. However, they need to be maintained just as much as natural teeth do. The guide below offers advice for extending their life span and protecting your oral health at the same time. 

Do:  

Maintain good oral hygiene.

Dentures are not a cure-all for oral health issues. When not wearing them, you should still take care of your remaining teeth and gums by brushing them twice a day and rinsing with fluoride mouthwash. Swish your mouth out after meals to remove food particles between brushings.

Keep your dentures clean. 

You should also brush and floss your dentures, using denture-specific toothpaste. Soak them in a cleaning solution when you aren’t wearing them—which should be every night.

Don’t:

Indulge in too many hard or sticky foods. 

Even though dentures are meant to give you the biting strength similar to what you once had, the bonds holding them in place can weaken with time. Therefore, avoid sticky food that might pull out the dentures or hard food that may cause damage to delicate ceramic. This includes items like toffee, hard candy, and ice cubes.

Neglect dental appointments.

In addition to keeping up bi-annual appointments with your dentist, schedule a visit if there is a problem with the fit or comfort-level of your dentures—before it leads to mouth sores. They can also answer any further questions you might have about maintenance.

Teresa Wade DDS – Family Dentistry will help you care for your dentures, braces, or other dental care devices through expert service and education. Their family-owned and -operated practice has served the Andrews, TX, community for almost 40 years. For preventative and restorative dentistry you can count on, make an appointment today, either online or by phone at (432) 523-7782.