If you're eating chips, it's possible to get chips caught in your teeth. When you have dentures, it's possible to get another type of chip on your teeth. Since your dentures must be removed overnight and be cleaned, this creates an unfortunate opportunity for damage and causes small chips to appear in the denture base. How serious is this minor damage for your overall oral health? And how can you avoid this damage in the first place?
The Seriousness of Minor Damage
Firstly, don't dismiss the potential seriousness of even a small chip or crack on your dentures. A chip can aggravate the roof or base of your mouth as your dentures press against them, leading to secondary oral health complications. A hairline crack can result in your dentures breaking in half due to the pressure exerted upon the denture base during normal usage. Small chips can be sealed using dental wax, but this is very much only a short-term solution. You need to visit a denture repair clinic as soon as possible for prompt attention. A best-case scenario is to minimise the chance of damage altogether. How can you accomplish this?
Prevent Drying Out
Many instances of denture damage occur during storage (when the dentures are not in your mouth) and while they're being cleaned. Be sure to store your dentures in water (perhaps with an appropriate cleansing solution) so that they don't dry out overnight as this can weaken them and make them more susceptible to damage.
Dry Dentures Are Easy to Handle
When cleaning your dentures, you should first wipe them with a paper towel. This dries them, making them less likely to slip out of your hands during cleaning. Additional precautions depend on where you decide to clean them.
Over the Sink
If you're cleaning your dentures over the sink, you can simply fill the sink with a small amount of water. If they slip out of your hands, they will drop into the water, which will cushion their fall, avoiding an impact with the hard surface of the sink.
Over Other Surfaces
If you clean your dentures while at the table or over the bathroom counter, just place a towel over whatever surface is in front of you. Again, it will cushion the impact and will prevent the dentures from bouncing off the surface and onto the floor.
It's really incredibly simple to avoid damage to your dentures during storage and cleaning, and it's just a matter of getting into the habit each and every time. But if you should damage your dentures, please remember the importance of quick repairs. Find a denture repair clinic near you for more information.
