Caring For Dentures – 3 Cleaning, Repairing and Whitening Tips

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Caring For Dentures
3 Cleaning, Repairing, Whitening Tips

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In order for your false teeth to last a long time, you need to learn all about caring for dentures. The daily and weekly maintenance chores you will have to follow are easy to do and easy to turn into a regular routine.
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The three main things you will want to do to keep your dentures looking their best is cleaning, repairing and whitening.
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Read about these 3 tips on Caring For Dentures:
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Caring For Dentures #1: Cleaning
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Just as natural teeth need regular cleaning, so do your dentures. However there are differences in the way you clean your false teeth. There are two main steps involved – they are basically categorized as brushing and soaking.
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Food particles can become trapped in-between the dentures, in the clips or become dirty or stained from certain beverages. This is why you will be required to brush them daily as you would natural teeth.
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The main difference here is that many choose to brush dentures once a day as opposed to after every meal for natural teeth.
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When brushing dentures, care has to be taken as they are softer than natural teeth and require brushing with a soft bristled toothbrush. They also need to be brushed with toothpaste or denture cleaner made specifically for use with false teeth. Regular toothpaste is too abrasive for false teeth so you must use the correct denture cleaner for best results.
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After you have brushed your dentures using a denture cleaner/toothpaste with a toothbrush containing soft bristles, you should soak them.
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There are several denture cleaning solutions available over the counter at drugstores and grocery stores. Typically they are mixed with water and the dentures are meant to soak in this mixture overnight. This gets to the particles and other matter that was not removed by brushing your dentures.
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Another form of cleaning and soaking comes from the use of an ultrasonic cleaner. These devices use ultrasound to ‘vibrate’ particles off of false teeth. The dentures rest in a container, usually with just water, and ultrasound does the work.
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Dentures can be cleaned in as few as three minutes using this method. Ultrasonic cleaning of dentures can be done weekly or more frequently if desired.
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Caring For Dentures #2: Repairing

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False teeth are really not the kind of appliance that the do-it-yourselfer should attempt to repair. However, there are kits available where a tooth that has chipped or broken in a partial or full denture can be fixed temporarily. There are also kits that can repair broken plates and even coloring tools to make false partials appear better matched to natural teeth in the same mouth.
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The thing to remember about these kits is that they should be used as a temporary solution.
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You should never try to adjust or fix clasps or metal clips on your dentures. Not only do you risk causing further damage, you may create a problem where the denture fit is affected.
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Dentures that do not fit properly may cause sores and irritations in your mouth and gum line. As a result, dentures may crack or chip leading to more serious problems.
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If there is something wrong with your dentures, see your dentist for the proper repair.
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Caring For Dentures #3: Whitening

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In addition to cleaning your dentures regularly with brushing and soaking, you may wish to give them a whitening treatment.
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There are a number of options available ranging from home remedies and over the counter products to a professional cleaning from your dentist. Bleaching solutions are a popular choice but if you choose to use one, ensure that it is formulated for use with false teeth. Do not use household bleach.
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Provided you a diligent in your denture cleaning routine, you may never have to resort to a whitening product. Your false teeth will look as good as new if you clean them properly. A good cleaning program combining brushing and soaking with frequent ultrasonic cleanings will keep them white.
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Just as is the case with natural teeth, false teeth lose their whiteness over time as beverages and certain foods contribute to staining. Proper cleaning will reduce the discoloration.
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The most reliable teeth whitening solution for your dentures is a professional cleaning from your dentist. Just like you would have a whitening session during a regular dental appointment with your natural teeth, you can do the same with your dentures.
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Professional whitening will last longer than any other method you could use and because it is done by your dentist you know it will be done correctly.
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Summary on Caring for Dentures

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Because visits to the dentist to take care of false teeth are costly, many people turn to cheaper alternatives in an effort to achieve the same results at a fraction of the cost. Some of these methods are good alternatives but will never fully replace the quality of work you will receive from your dentist.
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Always consult with your dental care professional before turning to a less expensive alternative for some advice on whether or not a DIY project is your best option.
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Article by Jade Roberts
Jade owns and operates False Teeth Options which provides valuable information and resources regarding false teeth, dental implants, and cosmetic dentistry to people of all ages.
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