If you are wearing false teeth, do not neglect the hygiene of the false teeth because dental plaque also forms on them.

Cleaning a removable denture

Dental plaque forms on the surface of a denture. In order to maintain the hygiene of the mouth and denture, the denture should be taken out for cleaning every night.

Denture cleaning
  • First, fill the washing basin with some water to prevent accidental drop and fracture of the denture. Apply some detergent onto the toothbrush. Then clean every surface of the denture
    Animation showing the cleaning of denture with toothbrush.
  • Before bedtime, immerse the cleaned denture into a cup of water overnight.
    Photograph showing a denture being immersed in water.
Consequences of poor denture hygiene
Wearing an unclean denture for a long period of time may lead to inflammation of the soft tissue under the denture with redness, swelling, pain, ulceration, etc. This condition is called "Denture induced Stomatitis".

Points to note

  • Avoid using toothpaste to clean the denture. The coarse particles in the toothpaste may scratch the surfaces of denture and enhance plaque accumulation.
  • The unworn removable denture should be immersed in a cup of plain water to avoid warping of the denture.
  • If the denture is broken, you should pick up all broken parts and take them to the dentist for assistance.
Cleaning a fixed bridge

As dental plaque also accumulates on the surface under the bridge, people wearing bridges should use superfloss to clean the area daily.

Photograph showing accumulation of plaque underneath a bridge.
Dental plaque accumulates underneath the bridge
 Photograph showing a piece of superfloss with three different components.
Superfloss

Fixed bridge cleaning

  • Firstly, insert the stiffened end into the area between bridge and the tooth, then pull the superfloss until the spong part reach the bridge.
    Animation showing how to insert the stiffened end of a superfloss into the area beneath a bridge.
  • Wrap the spong floss around the real tooth, silde up and down to clean the adjacent tooth surface.
  • Gently move the spongy floss between the gum and the base of the bridge, use a soft back-and-forth motion to remove plaque under the false tooth.
    Animation showing how to thread the spongy floss of a superfloss between the gums and the bridge to clean in back and forth motion.
  • Then wrap the spongy floss around the real tooth at the other side of the bridge, slide up and down to clean the adjacent tooth surface.
  • Finally, slowly pull it out from the space between the tooth and the bridge.
  • The regular floss is used to remove the plaque from the adjacent tooth surfaces for the rest of the teeth.

Consequences of unclean bridge

Poor bridge hygiene may affect the health of the adjacent teeth, resulting in tooth decay and gum disease.
Video display: Use of superfloss
Cleaning of implant supported false tooth

Implant supported false teeth

A dental implant is a biocompatible (titanium) structure embedded in the jawbone as abutment which acts like the root of a tooth to support false teeth, such as crown, bridge or denture.

Cleaning of implant supported false tooth

  • Implant supported single crown
    The cleaning method is similar to that of a real tooth. Brush at the gum margin, and use floss or interdental brush to clean the interdental surfaces.
    Photograph showing the cleaning of an adjacent surface of a tooth with dental floss. Photograph showing the cleaning of interdental surfaces with a interdental brush.
  • Implant supported bridge
    If the false teeth have two or more implants supporting, the cleaning method is similar to that of a conventional bridge. Since there is a gap between the false teeth and the gum, it is necessary to use superfloss or interdental brush to clean the surfaces underneath the false teeth.
    Photograph showing the cleaning of abutment and the gap between the bridge and the gum with a superfloss. Photograph showing the cleaning of abutment and the gap between the bridge and the gum with a interdental brush.
  • Implant supported denture
    After removing the denture, use a single-tuft toothbrush to clean around the abutment of the implant. The cleaning method for the denture is the same as for conventional dentures. Use soft toothbrush and detergent to clean every part of the denture. Then rinse with water and immerse it in a glass of water overnight.
    Photograph showing the cleaning of abutment with a single-tuft toothbrush. Photograph showing the cleaning of denture with a toothbrush.

Consequences of unclean implant supported false tooth

Implant supported false tooth can help to improve chewing ability. However, if oral self care is not appropriate, the gum around the implant may become inflamed, leading to development of peri-implantitis. Gradually, the implant may become mobile and even come out.
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