Once you receive your dentures, you must know how to care for your restoration properly. Properly caring for your dentures will ensure that they last for years to come. We provide dentures to patients missing full rows or arches of missing teeth to patients in Bethesda, MD, and want to help patients learn how to care for their dentures properly.
Q&A: Dentures in Bethesda, MD
Below, we will answer some patients’ most common questions about caring for their dentures.
How do I clean my dentures?
Patients with traditional removable dentures can use a soak to clean them after removal. Patients with fixed dentures that use implants for support must use toothbrushes, toothpaste, and floss. We recommend a soft-bristled brush for the denture and non-abrasive toothpaste to remove food debris and bacteria from the restorations. Some patients may find water flossers easier to work with than threaded floss. However, there are techniques patients can use to floss their dentures.
What is the best way to floss dentures?
If you have a permanent implant-retained denture, you must know how to floss to prevent bacterial buildup. Threading floss beneath a denture like a needle and thread can remove debris if patients have fixed dentures. Some patients may find flossing with water flossers simpler, especially if they have mobility issues. Water flossers use a strong stream of water to wash away the buildup.
Are dentures painful?
You may feel pain if we need to extract teeth before denture treatment. However, you will not feel pain during extraction or the denture treatment. Patients with removable dentures may have sore gums because their restoration does not support the gum or bone beneath. Removable dentures lay on top of the gums and can create denture sores.
Can you eat normally with dentures?
Removable dentures can make eating hard, sticky, or crunchy foods difficult for patients. Because of this, many patients with dentures will need to eat soft foods. However, implant-secured dentures feel more like natural teeth because the implants support restorations by integrating with healthy jaw bone. Patients with implant-secured dentures can eat harder foods.
Can you sleep wearing dentures?
Patients with traditional removable dentures or snap-on dentures need to remove their dentures before going to bed. The dentures lay on the gums, which can lead to irritation as they shift during sleep. Bacteria can also grow on the restorations if they are left in the mouth at night, contributing to problems like gum disease or tooth decay if patients have any remaining teeth.
Do you have any more questions for us about dentures? Contact Bethesda Family Smiles for treatment today at 301.500.2205 or schedule a dental appointment online. We’re here to help you restore your missing teeth.