While dentures are often very helpful for San Francisco patients, adjusting to them is not something that will happen overnight. It is a process that requires some work on the patient’s part. In order to prolong the life of the dentures and ensure maximum oral health and comfort, here are some do’s and don’ts to keep in mind as a patient in San Francisco learns more about having dentures.
Things a Patient Should Do with Their Dentures
Here are a couple of things a patient should be doing with their dentures to make sure they last a long time and are comfortable in their mouth:
- When a patient takes the dentures out of their mouth, or they’re putting them in, use a towel and do so over the sink for the cleanest possible outcome.
- When a patient removes their dentures, they should clean their mouth afterward with a soft brush to remove any unwanted food or plaque buildup in their oral cavity.
- After eating, dentures should be thoroughly washed to ensure there is no leftover food or other unwanted debris on them.
- Dentures should be brushed with a soft brush and a dentist-recommended cleaning solution. Hand soap and mild dishwashing soap will also work in these situations.
- Dentures should be soaked overnight, as it is important that they remain moist. This helps them to maintain their shape and will continue to fit comfortably in the patient’s mouth.
- Regular checkups with the dentist will help monitor the progress of the dentures. This will be very important for a patient’s oral health and also allow them to ask any questions they may have about the dentures
Things a Patient Should Not Do with Their Dentures
By contrast, here are some things a patient in San Francisco should not be doing with their dentures, as they will potentially damage them or not be beneficial to their long-term oral health.
- Patients should not brush them with toothpaste or any other type of abrasive, as this will cause microscopic cracks in the dentures. Be sure to ask the dentist about the best way to clean the specific type of dentures.
- Dentures are very fragile, so any kind of drop may cause them to break.
- If the dentures do break for some reason, a patient should not attempt to modify or repair them on their own in any way.
- A patient should not leave their dentures in their mouth overnight, as it is both uncomfortable and not beneficial to their overall oral health.
- Do not clean them with overly warm water, as this could potentially warp them and render them useless to a patient.
If you are in need of dentures and are based in the San Francisco area, contact our doctors at SF Oral Surgery today. Our professional medical staff is passionate about only providing our patients with the highest quality medical care, and we place a very high premium on patient comfort.
You can contact us online or by phone at (415) 776-6710 if you have more questions.
