You may find yourself looking after the health of someone else. This person may be family, or a close friend. There is a lot you can do to help when this person needs mouth care.

It may feel a bit strange at first, so go slowly. If the person does not want your help, respect their wishes. Ask your dentist for advice in this case.

Here are the procedures you should follow:

Natural Teeth

1. Stand behind the person to brush and floss their teeth.
2. Let the person sit in front of the sink. That way, you can make the same motions you use when you brush and floss your own teeth.
3. Make sure you use a soft toothbrush. Or you may find an electric toothbrush better when you brush someone else’s teeth. Ask the person to tell you if you are brushing too hard.
4. Have the person rinse with warm water when you are done.

Complete or Partial Dentures

1. Let the person tell or show you how to take the complete dentures or “partial” out. (With complete dentures, put the upper set back first, and then the lower set.)
2. Both kinds of dentures must be cleaned daily.
3. Look for cracks in the denture. If you find any, take it to a dentist for repair.
4. Fill the sink with water.
5. Scrub the denture with a denture brush and soap.
6. Rinse with water when you finish cleaning.
7. Soak denture overnight. It can be soaked in a special cleaner for dentures (denture cleanser), in warm water or in a mix of warm water and vinegar (half and half). If the denture has metal clasps, use warm water only for soaking.

Mouth Tissues

1. Ask if it is okay to look inside the person’s mouth.
2. Check the mouth closely. Look for swelling, red or white patches, parts of the gums that have changed colour and sores that do not heal in a few days. If you see any of these things, call the person’s dentist.
3. Clean and massage the inside of the person’s mouth with a damp cloth or a soft toothbrush.

If you lose a tooth, you can replace it with a “false” (or artificial) tooth. If you don’t replace it, your other teeth may get out of line. You need to care for complete dentures and partial dentures as carefully as you would look after natural teeth.

Four Main Types of Dentures

1. A fixed bridge (or fixed partial denture).

One or more false teeth are held between healthy teeth on both sides. You cannot take this kind of bridge out by yourself.

2. A partial denture (or removable partial denture).

One or more false teeth are held in place by clasps that fit onto nearby healthy teeth. You can take the false teeth out yourself, for cleaning and at night.

3. Complete dentures.

If you lose your teeth, these dentures can replace all your natural teeth.

4. Dental implants.

Dental implants are used to support false teeth or a fixed bridge. You must have healthy gums and bone (under your teeth) to support the implant. Your dentist (or oral surgeon) will put a small metal post into your jawbone.

Over time, the post will bond with the bone around it. The post (or implant) will act like an anchor to hold one or more false teeth in place.

Looking After your Dentures

You need to care for complete and partial dentures as carefully as you would look after natural teeth.

• Clean them every day. Plaque and tartar can build up on false teeth, just like they do on natural teeth.
• Take them out every night. Brush your teeth and gums carefully, using a soft toothbrush. Be sure to clean and massage your gums. If your toothbrush hurts you, run it under warm water to make it softer OR try using a finger wrapped in a clean, damp cloth.
• Soak them overnight. They can be soaked in a special cleaner for false teeth (denture cleanser), in warm water or in a mix of warm water and vinegar (half and half). If your denture has metal clasps, use warm water only for soaking. Soaking will loosen plaque and tartar. They will then come off more easily when you brush.

Caring for Implants

Because the implant sticks to bone, it can be treated more like a natural tooth. But it is NOT as strong as a natural tooth. You must brush and floss the implant very carefully. Be gentle, but make sure you brush all sides of the implant. At least once a day, floss very carefully. You will need to be gentle with the floss where the implant meets the gum.

If you have false teeth, see your dentist regularly. Your mouth is always changing. This means your false teeth will need to be adjusted from time to time to make sure you have a good fit.

If you have a bridge or implants, check-ups will help you make sure that your natural teeth get good care. If you have problems with your false teeth, your dentist may suggest you see a special dentist who knows more about false teeth. This kind of dentist is called a prosthodontist.

Important

People who have complete or partial dentures can also get gum disease around any natural teeth that are left. If you have gum disease:

• Your false teeth will not fit well over gums that are sore, swollen or bleeding.
• Your partial dentures (or removable dentures) will not be held firmly in place if your natural teeth and gums are not strong.

Be sure to see your dentist regularly for professional cleaning and check ups, so that he or she can detect any early signs of gum disease, and provide appropriate treatment.