Dentures have a long history of successfully restoring smiles after tooth loss. With a single prosthetic, your dentist can boost your chewing power, improve your appearance, and protect your dental health.
Caring for your restoration is essential to keeping it in good shape so you can continue enjoying its many benefits. However, many patients struggle with frequently removing and reinserting theirs for cleanings. You might wonder if brushing them while they’re in your mouth would be easier, but it’s usually not recommended. Keep reading to learn three reasons why!
Reason #1: Increased Risk of Gum Disease
Your dentures rely on a firm suction against your connective tissues to remain in place all day. Unfortunately, unhealthy bacteria in your mouth can be trapped in the space between your prosthetic and your gums. The longer they remain in place, they are to penetrate your gums and infect them, causing disease that can impact your jawbone if it goes unaddressed.
When you remove your dentures to wash them, you should also take a few moments to scrub your gums, tongue gently, and other soft tissues with a soft-bristled toothbrush to ensure that germs have no place left to hide. You can finish by rinsing with mouthwash to clean even the hardest-to-reach areas.
Reason #2: Unable to Reach All Surfaces
Although your dentures can’t get cavities, they can develop plaque buildup that can leave them looking discolored and worn and causes bad breath. The best way to keep your prosthetics looking and feeling fresh is to thoroughly cleanse them twice daily. However, if they’re still in your mouth when you brush, then you can only reach the exposed surfaces.
Removing your restoration is necessary to wash all the nooks and crannies on both sides, including the clips if you have partial dentures. Take care to gently brush away any food residue and leftover adhesive, if you use it, before reinserting them when you’re done.
Reason #3: Possibility of Sores
If gum disease and smelly breath aren’t enough to convince you to take your dentures out for cleanings, then perhaps avoiding blisters is the motivation you need. When your restoration stays in place all day, the friction caused by repeated motions can leave your gums feeling raw. In fact, some patients develop sores that ache badly enough that putting their dentures in is uncomfortable. Not only that, but these wounds can become infected if you don’t give your connective tissues a chance to heal.
As you can see, brushing your dentures in your mouth is possible, but it’s not usually the wisest course of action!
About the Practice
At Magnolia Shores Family Dental, you benefit from two dentists who proudly help people of all ages build happy, healthy smiles. Dr. Atwood and Dr. Parry combine art and science to improve their patient’s dental condition and overall health simultaneously. They take the time to get to know you and your unique needs, then customize treatment plans to meet them. Then, they utilize state-of-the-art equipment to enhance your comfort while providing accurate results intended to last. If you need help with your dentures, you can request an appointment on the website or call (336) 728-6153.