If you have dentures, you know the importance of proper denture maintenance. Just like regular teeth, the better care you take of your dentures, the longer they will last.
One of the essential things we recommend is that you store your dentures in water. Why? Well, let's look at what happens when dentures dry out.
Dentures Need Moisture
Dentures may look like they're just made out of plastic, and plastic doesn't need water, but dentures do. The base of your dentures is made out of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) which has water incorporated into it. Your dentures are made to be worn wet, so they need to stay moist. If you let your dentures dry out they can become deformed and warped.
This will cause them not to fit properly against your gums and that is just going to set you up for problems. Soreness, infection and pain are all side effects of dentures that don't fit correctly, so the last thing you want is for them to become warped or deformed.
Another common problem with dentures that dry out is that they become brittle. This means that if you accidently drop them, even if it's just a short fall like from your hand to your bathroom sink, they have a greater chance of shattering. Shattering your dentures means starting the entire process over again from scratch.
Additionally, soaking your dentures nightly will help keep them clean. Microbes left in dentures are killed when you soak them in a cleaning solution overnight. This reduces your risk for bacteria growth, plaque buildup and infection.
If you do fear that you've let your dentures dry out and become warped, give us a call to schedule an appointment. We want to help you have a healthy mouth, dentures included!
Frank Sallustio, DDS, 13802 West Camino Del Sol, Sun City West, AZ, 85375-4486 - Associated Words: Prosthodontist Sun City West AZ :
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(623) 738-2639 : www.drsallustio.com : 2/15/2019