Plaque On Dentures Can Make You Sick

Plaque On Dentures Can Make You Sick

Everyone knows that plaque on teeth can cause cavities and gum disease, but what about the plaque on dentures?  The plaque on a denture is what microbiologists call a “biofilm”—a community of bacteria and fungi attached to a hydrated surface embedded in a sugary slime.  The germs that make up these biofilms are associated with the most serious infections in the body and because they grow on the surface of the denture and not in the body, they can elude the immune system and antibiotics.  The real danger of these biofilms occurs when pieces break off, travel throughout the body, and become a source of infection—like pneumonia in the lungs.

Theses things are essential to keep your denture from making you sick:

1. Don’t wear your denture at night.  It has recently been shown that people that wear dentures at night double their risk of pneumonia.  Store it in water overnight. 
2. Brush the plaque off in the morning.  Use a denture brush and mild soap to clean before putting it in your mouth.  It can get slippery, so make sure you take precautions not to drop it on the tile floor.
3. Don’t use toothpaste, it scratches the surfaces and makes it more difficult to clean as bacteria adheres easier to a rough surface.  Also, there are some denture materials that actually repel bacteria with a special anionic charged surface or coating.

Sometimes it may be necessary to:

4. Soak your denture at home in a prescription mouthwash daily for 20 minutes after dinner or once a week with very dilute bleach.  Be careful not to do this too often or have the concentration too strong because bleach can make your denture turn white.
5. Your denture can be sanitized, disinfected, and even sterilized with ultrasonic, microwave, or concentrated soaking at your yearly check up.  If you have an immunocompromised condition, antifungal ointment or tablets may be prescribed.

Dr Rodney Andrus is Southern Utah’s ONLY Board Certified Prosthodontist (an ADA recognized specialist in all types of dentures and oral rehabilitation) and provides expert solutions for Adults with advanced dental needs at St George Center for Specialized Dentistry in St George, UT.  For more information you can call his office at 435-674-3100.

APPROPRIATE AND EFFECTIVE DENTISTRY IS AFFORDABLE

Recently a patient told me a story about her friend that had treatment for missing and damaged teeth that was complicated.  It was not satisfactory and so needed to be redone at a second additional cost.  She said that she wished she had paid a little more to have it done the appropriate and effective way the first time instead of have to pay twice for.  It  seemed that the insurance company had contracted to the lowest bidding provider in the area and was not committed to the best outcome for her.  Although the insurance company readily takes monthly premiums, they often deny to pay for the most appropriate and effective treatments.  Why was it called “insurance”?  What exactly do they insure against loss or damage?  Nothing.  At best it seemed that it was a mediocre discount plan.  I told her, what I told my own mother—“pay yourself the monthly premiums and put the money under your mattress for when you need dental work and be true to your teeth.” 

 When it comes to the sometimes limited resources of older adults on fixed income, it is important for them to receive the most appropriate and effective care to avoid redo dentistry. Appropriate and effective treatment is more affordable over time.  That’s why prosthodontists dedicate an additional 3 years after dental school training—they are the committed to give the best outcomes to adult patients with missing and damaged teeth issues. The final result is what matters.  Prosthodontists are specialists in the final result.  They see the treatment through from start to finish to ensure your result is appropriate and effective and affordable.

Dr Rod Andrus is Southern Utah’s ONLY board certified prosthodontist and exclusively serves adults with advanced dental needs.  He can be reached for appointment at 435-674-3100.