 The average life of a denture is approximately 5 to 7
years.
However, you can shorten or prolong the denture’s life by how you
maintain your denture from what you eat, or even how you brush.
Nicole Dandeno of Hanmer Denture Clinic offers a few tips on how you can
prolong the life of your denture to offer more years of satisfaction
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DENTURE
MAINTENANCE TIPS
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DO’S
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DON’TS
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Brush your dentures at least twice a day with a
non-abrasive cleaner such as Oxyfresh non-fluoride toothpaste,
Polident Denture Paste, Polident Fresh Cleanse, or liquid hand /
dish soap.
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Do not use abrasive materials. Toothpaste’s
commonly found on the market made for natural teeth, baking soda or
even toothpaste gels are all too harsh for your denture.
These materials can scratch or dull your dentures through a
process of filing down and thinning them out. The abrasive action
creates a perfect place for bacteria to grow, plaque to accumulate
and stains to develop.
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It is recommended that you remove your dentures
at night and leave them in a cleaning solution or water to give your
gums a break.
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It is not recommended that you leave your
dentures in your mouth at night as this can cause gum irritation,
increase bacteria, speed up gum shrinkage, and can be choking hazard
while sleeping.
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At night, you should soak your dentures in a
“soaking solution” such as Polident Tablets, Novadent, Dentanet
or any other kind of denture soaking solution.
This helps remove plaque, stains, and disinfects your
dentures.
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Avoid soaking your dentures in Javex as this
can discolor or dry out your dentures. Leaving them out on the
counter to dry out at night is also not recommended, because it
makes the dentures brittle and prone to breakage.
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Nicole also advises her patients to avoid chewing or sucking on candy such
as peppermints, tic tacs and other kinds of hard candy as they can slowly
wear down the teeth or can actually create a hole in your denture over
time. This can cause your dentures to no longer function correctly or fit
stable. If you must have something of this nature in your mouth, Freedent
is highly recommended because it does not stick to your dental work.
By following the simple recommendations above, you can tack on a few more
years to you dentures life. Annual
check ups by your denturist is recommended to ensure optimum oral heath. |
