No one likes losing a tooth, regardless of the circumstance, but we cannot prevent it. Today, most people will lose at least one tooth in their life, and this shows the importance of dental prosthesis. The advancement in medical technology has made today’s dental prosthesis look more natural and comfortable. Interestingly, it’s hard for anyone to notice that you have an implant or dentures fixed. However, it’s important to ensure that you take good care of your dental prosthesis if you want them to last. The following are 5 tips to help you in doing so.
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Clean your dental prosthesis the right way
Most people with dental prostheses think that using their normal toothbrush or dental floss to clean their prosthesis. But, that would be one of the greatest mistakes to make if you have dentures fixed. If you want your dental prosthesis to last, you should handle them with extra care. Thus, you must heed to your dentist’s advice on how to clean your prosthesis, as well as the tools that you need to clean them.
The best way to clean your dental implants is by using a nylon toothbrush. That means you’ll need to switch from your normal toothbrush. Nylon toothbrushes have bristles that are gentle and pliable on your implants. In addition to a nylon toothbrush, you’ll also need a Proxabrush, as this allows you to clean areas that you cannot reach easily.
So, you need to avoid toothbrushes that have hard bristles, as they can scrape the surface of your prosthesis. Moreover, you must avoid using any kind of metal object to clean your teeth once you get your prosthesis. Rather, you should stick to your normal brushing and flossing—twice every day.
Floss daily
Statistics reveal that less than 20% of Americans floss their teeth daily. This is an indication that the remaining percentage doesn’t understand the benefits of flossing their teeth. If you’ve never taken flossing seriously, you need to do it once you get your dental prosthesis.
Dental implants will require you to make flossing a part of your daily life. The reason behind this is very simple—plaque can easily accumulate on the implants, and this can cause other oral problems. The good news is, we have different types of dental floss designed for people with a dental prosthesis. So, you don’t have any excuse not to floss.
In case you have a challenge in finding time to floss every day, here are a few tips to assist you in creating a regular flossing schedule:
- Set a reminder – this is one of the best ways, especially if you have a super busy schedule—just use your phone and set a reminder.
- Throw in a floss in your purse or car – carrying a dental floss with you every time allows you to use it whenever you have some free time.
- Reward yourself after flossing – yes, you’ll need to give yourself motivation. You can reward yourself with anything you like whenever you floss.
- Floss while watching TV – there is a possibility that you watch TV late in the evening before sleeping. Take this opportunity to floss your prosthesis. This can be more effective when you combine it with a reminder, as you will not have any excuse.
Avoid food and drinks that stain teeth
Just like your normal teeth, your dental prosthesis can stain with time. Thus, you must avoid some foods and drinks whenever possible to reduce this possibility. Dark snacks and drinks like coffee, red wine, dark berries, and soda are some of the most common culprits of staining dentures and teeth. Besides, foods and drinks with high acidity, like spaghetti curry and sauce can cause staining to your teeth. So, you should limit how you consume these staining substances. In case you take any of these items, make sure that you rinse your dentures immediately afterward.
Avoid alcohol and smoking
Professional San Diego dentists from Bajars Dental say that smoking can significantly affect your oral health. Particularly, tobacco can affect your dental prosthesis for the first six months, and even after the prosthesis has fully integrated. Besides, smoking reduces the blood supply to your teeth, gums, and bones, which can also affect your dental prosthesis. Drinking alcohol, on the other hand, can slow down the healing process of your dental implants.
Schedule regular appointments with your dentist
Your dentist might ask you to go for checkups after every six months or so—although you might be asked to schedule frequent appointments in case of certain health problems. During your normal appointments, your dentists will check whether your prosthesis fits well, and are not damaged. In case adjustments are required, your dentist will make the corrections before you leave the office. Besides, your dentist will clean your dental prosthesis and gums to keep them healthy.
Taking good care of your dental prosthesis can increase their lifespan. Since you will be wearing them for many years to come, you must get a quality dental prosthesis that fits you well.
