How Do You Care For Dentures?

How Do You Care For Dentures?

Are you interested in dentures but want to know more about upkeep before treatment? We’re here to help. Our dental office provides implant-supported and traditional dentures in our Lincoln Park, IL office. It’s important to know how to care for your dentures to ensure that they last as long as possible. Keeping dentures clean can also prevent infections in the gums or any remaining natural teeth. Learn the best ways to maintain and clean your smiles for years of good oral health. 

Caring for Dentures in Lincoln Park, IL

There are many different ways to care for dentures, depending on the type of denture. Knowing how to handle dentures and clean your dentures safely can prevent damage to the denture or decay in the gum tissue or remaining teeth:

Traditional Dentures

Removable, traditional dentures use adhesives to stay in place. These dentures stick to the gums but may be removed at night. You can remove the adhesive with a soft-bristled toothbrush, water, and mild soap. Because traditional dentures are removable, patients can clean their dentures with a denture soak. When handling dentures, hold them over a sink or towel to prevent dropping or damaging them. 

Implant-Supported Dentures

We can incorporate dental implants to secure dentures in the mouth. Dental implants are titanium posts that fuse with the jaw bone to create stable, lasting restorations. Some implant-secured dentures may be removed, but others are fixed, meaning patients do not need to remove their dentures.

As with traditional dentures, removable implant dentures must be cleaned and soaked in denture cleaner. Fixed implant dentures do not require soaking. Instead of removing their dentures, patients can brush their false teeth just like natural teeth. Using a soft-bristled brush and non-abrasive toothpaste can prevent wear or damage to the false teeth.

Denture Maintenance Tips

Follow these tips to ensure that you maintain your traditional or implant-supported dentures: 

  • Do not sleep with removable dentures in your mouth.
  • Avoid toothpaste with harsh abrasives like charcoal.
  • Do not try to whiten dentures, this can discolor the restoration.
  • Call the dentist if you damage your dentures, do not try to fix them yourself.
  • Use the proper amount of denture adhesive.

If you ever encounter any problems like mouth sores, discomfort, or ill-fitting dentures, contact us as soon as possible. We will examine your restoration and your smile and create a new restoration if it is required. Sometimes a gum infection can impact the denture. We can provide periodontal therapy to restore gum health and ensure that dentures remain stable.

Do you have any more questions about caring for your dentures? Please call our office today at (773) 549-2881. You can also schedule a dental appointment at White Glow Dental Studio online.

How Can I Treat Bleeding Gums?

How Can I Treat Bleeding Gums?

Do your gums bleed when you brush? Gum inflammation, or gingivitis, can cause red and bleeding gums. Gingivitis can cause pain, irritation, and discomfort in the gums. Over time, gingivitis can become periodontitis or gum disease. Knowing the signs that accompany bleeding gums and knowing how to treat bleeding gums can prevent worsening dental problems in the future. 

Symptoms That Accompany Bleeding Gums

You can also experience these symptoms if you have bleeding gums: 

  • Gum pain and irritation
  • Sensitive gums
  • Red or purple gum tissue
  • A sticky film (plaque) or hardened deposits (tartar) on the teeth or gums

Please contact our office if you often experience bleeding gums and other accompanying symptoms. You can develop gum disease over time, which is non-reversible. We can reverse gum inflammation, but we cannot fully reverse the effects of gum disease.

How to Treat Bleeding Gums

There are multiple things you can do to reverse bleeding gums and other symptoms of gum inflammation and gum disease:

Practice Good Oral Hygiene

Many patients may not floss because they don’t realize how important it is to their oral health. If patients only brush their teeth, they are not fully cleaning their smiles. Flossing before brushing removes food debris and bacterial buildup. Brushing after flossing creates a better clean. A good oral hygiene routine can keep bacteria at bay and stop bleeding gums for good.

Receive Routine Antibacterial Care

At routine dental appointments, our hygienists provide professional dental cleanings that are much more thorough than your two-minute flossing and brushing. Our dental hygienists use stainless steel dental tools to find and remove plaque, a sticky bacterial film, and tartar, hardened plaque. An antibacterial rinse can also minimize the recurrence of bacterial buildup following a cleaning. 

Receive Professional Deep Cleanings

We will recommend scaling and root planing treatment to help patients who already notice signs of gum disease. These treatments are used together to remove plaque and tartar from the gums and the tooth roots. During scaling treatment, we remove plaque and tartar at and beneath the gum line. Root planing goes beneath the gums to the tooth roots, smoothing down the roots and removing plaque and tartar. 

Sometimes, we will recommend scaling and root planing for patients who have recurring gum disease symptoms. We will recommend deep cleaning treatments on a schedule that works for each patient. 

Do you have gum pain, sensitivity, and discomfort in addition to bleeding gums? Call White Glow Dental Studio for treatment today at (773) 549-2881. You can also schedule a dental appointment with us online. We will be happy to help you find the right treatment for your symptoms. 

Answering Common Dental FAQs

Answering Common Dental FAQs

Patient education is an integral part of dental care. We want our patients to ask us questions about their general treatment options, oral hygiene routine, and how we can care for their smiles in our office. Here, patients can read answers to common dental FAQs in Chicago, IL. Our dental team is always happy to answer any questions or discuss current patient concerns. We pride ourselves on creating a friendly environment where patients feel comfortable receiving dental care.

Dental FAQs in Chicago, IL

Read answers to commonly asked questions about dental care:

How Often Should I Visit The Dentist?

We recommend that patients visit the dentist biannually or every six months. During regular visits, our dental hygienists provide thorough dental cleanings and we take x-rays and perform regular exams.

Why Are Regular Dental Visits Important? 

Scheduling dental visits every six months can help keep your teeth and gums healthy. We provide dental cleanings to remove bacterial buildup from the teeth and gums. Additionally, we take dental x-rays to keep track of any developing problems. Routine dental appointments help our team care for your smile. Visiting the dentist on a regular basis can prevent severe dental issues and complications.

What Is The Best Method To Brush My Teeth?

If you use a manual toothbrush, brush your teeth in circular motions. Begin brushing the outside of the teeth. Then, move to the tooth’s chewing surfaces and the back of the teeth. You do not need to rotate your brush if you have an electric toothbrush. However, you should take several seconds to move over each tooth.

How Can I Improve My Gum Health?

The best way to improve gum health is to remember to floss and brush your teeth. Some patients may not think flossing is as important as brushing. However, flossing removes food particles that can get stuck between teeth. Flossing and brushing together can minimize the chance of gum disease and tooth decay. Harmful bacteria feed on food debris left on the gums, irritating the gum tissue. Removing this debris and brushing with fluoridated toothpaste can combat gum disease.

Are you looking for a dentist in the Chicago area? Do you have any more questions for our office? Call White Glow Dental Studio for care today at (773) 549-2881. You can also schedule a dental appointment with us on our website. We are always happy to help you learn more about your treatment options.