Use These Steps To Prolong The Life Of Your Dentures

A new set of dentures should be able to last you for several years, but it's important to take a proactive role in their care if you want them to last for as long as possible. Part of making sure that your dentures last a long time is visiting a reputable dentist to have your mouth measured carefully so the dentures can be made in the correct size; ill-fitting dentures will cause you pain and you'll likely want to replace them in short order. Otherwise, there are a number of important things that you can do to prolong the life of your dentures.

Keep Them In Their Case

It may sound simple, but keeping your dentures in their case when they're not in your mouth is integral to ensuring that they don't get broken. While you might occasionally be tempted to just set the dentures on your bedside table or bathroom counter overnight, it's too easy to inadvertently knock them onto the ground — perhaps when you're reaching for your alarm clock in the dark — and the impact will often break them. If you find that you occasionally remove your dentures and leave them in different areas, it's worthwhile to invest in a couple extra cases so the dentures will always be safe.

Clean Them Regularly

If you aren't consistent about cleaning your dentures daily, they'll develop bacteria that could compromise the health of your mouth. Furthermore, the growth of bacteria can make the dentures smell poorly, which means that you won't likely want them in your mouth and may want to replace them prematurely. Follow your dentist's instructions for cleaning the dentures regularly. Typically, this includes rinsing them after meals, scrubbing them with a brush every day and also soaking them in a cleaning solution.

Make Sure Your Oral Health Is Top Notch

Caring for your mouth is another important way to prolong the life of the dentures. If you ignore your oral health, you can experience changes in your mouth — gum disease, for example — that cause the dentures to fit poorly or cause you pain. This will leave you scheduling an appointment with your dentist to have new dentures made to reflect the changes in your mouth. Follow your dentist's guidance for oral care; even if you don't have any of your real teeth left, brushing the gums and using mouthwash daily is important to keeping your gums healthy and extending the amount of time that you can wear the dentures with ease.

To learn more, contact a dental group like Bristol Dental Group.