How to Get a Great Smile

Posted on: 7 June 2017

If you're new to dental plates or if you're considering them, you'll need to learn essential techniques for keeping them clean. In addition to ensuring your dental plate lasts longer, careful cleaning reduces the risk of gum disease and other infections. Fortunately, good dental plate hygiene only requires a little effort.

Keep cleaning your teeth regularly

Foreign bodies are often excellent breeding ground for bacteria, which means you need to clean your teeth just as before. In addition to brushing twice a day, consider flossing and using mouthwash. Although brushing is an effective means of reducing bacteria and the sugars that encourage them to grow, your brush won't reach between your teeth, whereas flossing and using mouthwash will. Regular care also reduces the risk of gingivitis, which can lead to further infections such as tooth abscesses.

Clean your dental plate separately

While this will require a little more effort than usual, cleaning your dental plates separately further reduces the risk of fungal infections such as thrush. After removing your plate, brush it lightly using either toothpaste or soap and water. This removes larger food particles. You should then soak it in a denture cleaning solution for a few minutes before brushing them again lightly to remove any of the particles this solution dislodges.

Watch out for soreness and report any problems to your dentist

Ill-fitting dentures may rub against your gums, which then leads to soreness and, occasionally, open wounds. Again, these areas are great breeding grounds for bacteria, and when an open wound is present you increase the risk of problematic infections. If you begin to notice soreness, resist the urge to adjust your plate yourself and avoid wearing it. Make an appointment with your dentist so they can assess why your plate isn't fitting snugly, which may then lead to them ordering a new set. In some cases, your dentist may recommend using adhesive instead. While an adhesive isn't necessary for everyone, it can reduce the risk of rubbing and prevent unnecessary new fittings for some.

Finally, you should look out for the signs of infection so you can visit your dentist before it gets out of hand. This can include feeling sensitive when chewing or encountering hot or cold temperatures, toothache, bleeding gums, fever and swelling in your face and neck. With regular cleaning and vigilance, you can prevent such hygiene issues from becoming a problem, or you can stop them at their early stages.