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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-02-07, Page 9Page 8 February 7, 2007 • The Huron Expositor RUING THE GREATER SEAFO RTH AREA Oral hygiene important for denture wearers Your oral health and hygiene are so important when you have den- tures! You should have regular care from a den- tal professional, both to look at the soft tissues in your mouth and to check your denture for proper fit, com- fort and func- tion. "Clean your denture daily to prevent build-up of plaque, food, calculus (also called tartar), and stain," says dental hygienist Trina O'Rourke at the Huron County Health Unit. "Without cleaning, you can have prob- lems with the appearance of your denture, mouth odor, irri- tation to the tis- sues under the denture, or infections in the mouth," she says. Like natural teeth, brush dentures every day. Dentures are delicate and may break if dropped. Put a Seaforth Manor Retirement Residence 100 James St. Seaforth Mark Your Calendar! DINER'S CLUB DINNER & DANCE Tuesday, February 13'" 5:00 p.m. `8.00 per person Happy Valentine's Day! As space is limited, please call Tammy for reservations today it the Retirement Honic - 527-003( ext. 4 folded towel or face cloth in the sink when han- dling them. It's best to use a brush designed for cleaning den- tures. A tooth- brush with soft bristles can also be used. Some denture wearers use hand soap or mild dishwash- ing liquid, which are both fine for cleaning den- tures. You can use toothpaste, too. "Always fit a denture with your fingers," says O'Rourke. "If you put it in your mouth and bite down on it to seal it, the clasps can bend or break." See your den- tist or denturist if your dentures break, crack, chip, or if one of the teeth becomes loose. A denturist Joanne Dale, a level two certified dental assistant at Dr. Drake's dentist office in Seaforth, cleans a denture. can often make the necessary adjustments or repairs on the same day. Do-it- yourself repairs can cause prob- lems in your mouth. As well, glue sold over the counter often contains harm- ful chemicals that could make - Whitneyygibe Funeral Home A Family Owned Business Since 1975 87 Goderich St. W., Seaforth 519-527-1390 Ross W. Ribey - Funeral Director www.whitneyribeyfuneralhome.com Agent for: STRATFORD MEMORIALS LTD. you sick. Remove your dentures at night to prevent denture sores. Chronic sores can turn into more serious problems, so you can avoid them by allowing these areas to heal properly. When your dentures are not in your mouth, keep them in water or denture solution to pre- vent them from becoming brittle and drying out. With your first denture, you learn the basics — from eating and speaking to simply wearing it. If you need a replacement denture, you will usually find it faster and easier than the first time around. If you keep using dentures that don't fit, you can irritate the gums, tongue and cheek. It's even possi- ble for the ridges of your mouth to shrink to the point where it is almost impossi- ble to fit normal dentures. Your ability to chew may decrease, and your face may get deep aging lines and wrin- kles. "When you look at the big picture, taking time to adjust to a new denture is worth it," says O'Rourke.