For older adults, dental care is just as important as for younger adults. In fact, it can be even more important in many cases, as younger adults do not have to worry about many of the things that older adults need to. Some of these issues include taking care of dentures, tooth decay, and replacing missing teeth. In this blog article we will focus on dentures, and how older adults need to take care of them.
Dentures
Dentures are technically ¨false teeth¨. If you are an older adult and you feel dentures will be good for you, the first thing you need to do is visit your dentist. Once your appointment is complete, you will know whether or not you require partial dentures or complete dentures. It is important to realize the differences between these two options. Complete dentures are meant to replace every tooth in your mouth, while partial dentures only replace some of the teeth you are missing.
Once you have your dentures you should take care of them as you would your real teeth. It is also important to continue taking care of your gums. To properly address your dentures, brush your gum, tongue and roof of your mouth with a soft brush before putting your dentures on. This will help you avoid gum disease and to maintain a fresh mouth. You should also continue to visit your doctor regularly.
Here is some additional advice from your Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist on how to take care of your dentures:
- During the night, keep your dentures in lukewarm water or denture cleaning liquid, as opposed to water, to avoid letting them dry out.
- It is important that your dentures are replaced every five years
- Clean your dentures everyday. By maintaining this habit you prevent your dentures from becoming stained and keeping your mouth healthy.
- Rinse your dentures after every meal to remove any food particles that may generate odors.
- To clean your dentures every night use mild soap with a toothbrush. Avoid using regular house cleaning detergent, because these may be too strong.
- Use a toothbrush specifically defined for dentures
To take care of your gum and teeth:
- Make sure you are aware of your gum condition and do not wear your dentures if your gums are red or swollen.
- Take your denture off for at least seven hours everyday
- Only use dentures that fit perfectly in your mouth
- Do not try to fix any problems on your dentures by yourself
We hope this advice from your Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist is of help.