Candida Albicans, Streptococcus,
Sources: Oral candidiasis: An overview. J Oral Maxillofac Pathol. 2014; 18(Suppl 1):S81-5 (ISSN: 0973-029X) Singh A; Verma R; Murari A; Agrawal A
Advanced age, medication, illness and certain habits can make people significantly more prone to oral infections. Many people continue to use their dentures well beyond the recommended replacement time, and do not know how to properly clean them. Medications can exacerbate the issue by disrupting the normal oral flora and/or causing dry mouth.
Unfortunately, these infections are often left untreated because when denture-wearers have a problem, they go to a drugstore, not a dental professional. That’s why it is important for dental professionals to educate patients about the hygiene risks associated with dentures. Even though the number of denture-wearers keeps growing, there is still not much accessible information for people about proper denture and gum hygiene.As a dentist and the CEO of Geriatric House Call Geriatric Dentistry,I’ve seen this throughout my career.
One of the most common problems is that many patients don’t know that most toothpastes are far too abrasive for cleaning your complete and partial dentures. Regular toothpaste and the old-fashioned denture-brush can damage dentulu and actually make them less clean. Though the scratches are microscopic, there will be a visible difference in shine, finish, and color. Even worse, the denture is like a biological sponge, and without proper cleaning, it can become the perfect breeding ground for dangerous pathogens.
Proper cleaning of the denture and the gums is essential for oral health. The ADA recently dedicated a special section of its newsletter to recommend that “the mouth cavity, tongue and the jaws should be well cleaned to remove all plaques, before putting on the clean denture” in an article titled “Vital Information about Types of Dentures and Their Care”.
It is important to educate your patients at the start. Always recommend an extra soft toothbrush used with a low-abrasive denture & gum paste, especially to remove adhesive from the denture and mouth. I have done extensive research and the product that I give to all my patients (I like to purchase in bulk and give a full size to prove that it is worth purchasing when they run out) is Dr. B’s ( aka Dr. Berland) Cleanadent Paste because it has the added benefits of Aloe Vera, Coconut Oil, Tea Tree Oil and Vitamins A, D & E to reduce Dry Mouth and Irritation. This is especially important because saliva regulates the normal levels of oral flora. Dry Mouth is almost universally experienced by denture-wearers, especially if they use adhesive, and this can lead to chronic infection and soreness. I also routinely give to all my denture patients the Dr B ergonomic and extra soft toothbrush because it’s contoured to fit the gum ridges. Caregivers and individuals with limited manual dexterity often have a hard time with thin handled toothbrushes. This brush was designed with this issue in mind (it has a thick ball like handle), and can be used on your denture and remaining teeth as well if you are a partial denture wearer. I don’t think another toothbrush like this exists and my patients absolutely love it.
While Dental Professionals are aware of the prevalence of oral infections, this often went undiscussed because there wasn’t an easy way to prevent infections at home on a daily basis. Major brand denture cleansers can only claim to kill “odor-causing bacteria,” but do nothing to prevent recurring diseases fro
After years of treating denture-wearers suffering with these issues, I discovered Dr. B’s Liquid Crystal, a concentrated professional strength soak cleanser that instantly kills Candida, Strep, Staph and Actinomyces without harmful chemicals like bleach or chlorine. It works perfectly with the Dr. B UltraSonic Cleaner- a Jacuzzi for dentures, available on the website.
After years of treating and listening to patients with the same age-old problems, I started seeing many less cases of Oral Thrush and Stomatitis. Patients report having a better experience with their clean dentures and feeling better in general as the chronic infections diminished.
With information becoming ever more accessible and removable prosthodontics continually growing, the dental community should do more to educate patients about maintaining their dentures, understanding the risks facing their oral health, and looking for the right products when developing a denture hygiene routine. An effective oral hygiene routine from the beginning will prevent a lot of problems later on. So please take great care of your dentures, and they will take great care of you.
Alisa Kauffman and the dentists of Geriatric House Call Dentistry have been providing award winning dental services to the elderly population for over 35 years. The practice is one of a few select options for geriatric senior citizens who need dental work but cannot leave their homes.
Geriatric House Call Dentistry is a national network of highly skilled, compassionate, and exceptional dentists currently serving the following locations:
We are expanding to offer more locations, see our website for the updated list of areas offered within our network. Do you, or someone you know interested in joining Geriatric House Call Dentistry? We can help you start, and grow your practice – learn more at: https://join.geriatrichousecalldentistry.com/
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