Wearing Dentures In The Elderly Can Easily Cause Denture Stomatitis, And Improper Cleaning Methods Can Be Very Harmful.
Oral health alert for seniors: cleaning blind spots hidden in dentures
Stepping into the house where Aunt Wang lives, the living room is neat, clean and well-lit. However, the pair of dentures soaked in salt water placed on the washstand secretly reveals potential health risks. As a housekeeper with many years of experience in housekeeping services, I noticed that many elders still only have a simple and elementary understanding of denture cleaning, such as "soaking and brushing." Various data clearly show that among the nearly 200 million elderly people over 60 years old in my country, more than 26% wear dentures. However, among these elderly people wearing dentures, nearly one-third are suffering from denture stomatitis. This situation is not only related to the oral cavity itself, but may even become the source of respiratory diseases and digestive tract diseases.
Professional Tools of Choice: Say Goodbye Toothpaste, Embrace Cleansing Tablets
At Aunt Wang's house, I was the first to check the cleaning tools she used. It was a toothpaste with hard bristles and an ordinary water cup. I explained to Aunt Wang, Auntie, the materials of real teeth and dentures are completely different. Real teeth are very hard, and the abrasives contained in toothpaste can effectively clean them. However, dentures are mostly made of resin, and their surfaces are full of micropores that are difficult to see with the naked eye. Abrasives can cause damage to the surface of dentures, making it easier for bacteria and fungi to adhere to them.
Compared to salt water or cold water soaking, this is truly professional disinfection .
Deep cleaning process: "soak, rinse and brush" three-step method
In front of Aunt Wang, I demonstrated the standard and in-depth cleaning process. The first step is called "soaking": before going to bed, take off the dentures, use warm water of about 40 degrees to dissolve a denture cleaning tablet, then put the entire dentures into it and soak it, and leave it for 15 minutes or overnight. Change the second step of "rinsing" to: In the early morning of the next day, use a soft-bristled brush to gently brush all sides of the dentures under flowing water, especially the inner parts in contact with the gums, and use clean water to thoroughly rinse away the remaining dissolved plaque. Then change the third step of "brushing" to: use a soft-bristled toothbrush dipped in water to clean the real teeth, gums and tongue coating in the mouth, so as to keep the entire oral environment clean.
Detail processing: Invisible corners are the source of disease
When dealing with these details, you need to prepare a brush with a specific purpose and a pointed head with soft bristles, dip it in the cleaning tablet solution, and gently scrub all the grooves and edges. At the same time, the container used to store dentures also needs to be cleaned every day to avoid re-contamination. Remember: dentures are strictly prohibited from being left dry after being removed. They must be soaked in clean water or cleaning fluid to prevent them from deforming.
Note: Avoid these invisible “killers”
There are many "minefields" that must be avoided when cleaning. First, the use of hot water or chlorine-containing disinfectants is prohibited because it will cause the dentures to age and deform, and even release toxic substances. Secondly, it is not advisable to brush hard with a toothbrush dipped in toothpaste. Doing so will create scratches and create a "shelter" for bacteria. Third, it is absolutely not allowed to sleep while wearing dentures. Not wearing them at night can have a resting effect on the oral mucosa, thereby reducing the risk of denture stomatitis. Aunt Wang was surprised to find that she had committed the third crime.
Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls: Eliminating Three Major Misconceptions
One of the misunderstandings is that "salt water can sterilize". However, in fact, salt water can neither effectively kill Candida albicans nor break down the plaque that has formed. It can only inhibit some bacteria in a short period of time. It only treats the symptoms but cannot fundamentally solve the problem.
Myth 2: “You don’t need to remove dentures every day.” This is wrong! Even if it is just full dentures, they must be removed every day for professional cleaning and oral massage. Otherwise, pathogenic bacteria will continuously attack the oral mucosa.
Myth No. 3: "It is enough to soak the cleaning tablets overnight without scrubbing." Soaking is only the initial step. It can loosen and break down protein deposits. However, only scrubbing can physically remove the remaining parts. The two are interdependent and indispensable.
Effect comparison: Healthy transformation visible to the naked eye
A week later, I went back to visit Aunt Wang, and she showed me her changes with a happy face. The red and swollen gums had basically subsided, and the bad breath in her mouth had disappeared. She said that now she rinses her dentures with water every morning and they feel extremely slippery, and there is no greasy layer there like before. She followed the advice of "using a cleaning tablet every other day" and insisted on completing the "soaking, rinsing and brushing" process, and the denture stomatitis that had troubled her for two years never recurred. Eliminating Candida albicans infection at its source not only improves chewing function, but also plays a protective role in overall health. A pair of dentures is clean, and what it brings is a flavorful old age life.
