5 Things You Should Know If You Have Dentures

If you’re one of the millions of people who have dentures, it’s important to know how to take care of them so that they can work effectively and last as long as possible. After entertaining similar questions from various individuals, we decided to compile a list of 5 must knows for people that have dentures or are about to get one.

Things you should know if you have Dentures

Here are 5 things you should know when you have dentures.

Usage

Dentures are artificial devices that replace missing teeth, so it’s okay if they feel alien in your mouth during initial contact. You might also entertain mouth sores, feelings of early discomfort, and additional salivation than normal, but don’t fret; these things are all temporary and will pass away with time.

Cleaning your dentures

Clean your dentures with water after each meal to prevent pieces of food from sticking and hiding in them. Brush your dentures thoroughly at least twice a day using a denture brush and a non-abrasive soap or denture paste.

Dentures are hard substances but not nearly as hard as enamel, so they can easily get damaged or scratched by a normal toothbrush or other abrasive materials. Furthermore, avoid using toothpaste and other whitening materials on your dentures.

They might be good for your teeth but will harm your dentures if applied to them. However, if you must, you can use over the counter products under the strict guidance of your prosthodontist or the manufacturer’s instructions.

As an additional tip, never leave your dentures in your mouth for long periods, as doing this can cause bad breath and receding gums. Instead, when going to bed or when not in use, remove your dentures, clean them properly and soak them in water to keep them properly lubricated.

Products to avoid

Dentures are durable but delicate devices and need special attention to ensure they last long. When using dentures, there are certain foods you might want to avoid so as not to create complications. Some of them include:

• Hard food: Foods like nuts, apples and corn fall into this category.
• Sticky foods: This includes food like peanut butter and gummy bear
• Tough meats: Things like rib and stake fall into this category
• Foods that have small and stubborn pieces like popcorn kernels and shelled nuts.

Extra tip: Watch out for hot liquids. Dentures insulate your mouth, making it less sensitive to heat. After getting dentures, eat soft foods like pudding, hot cereals, broth, mashed potatoes and juice before moving on to solid foods like cooked rice and pasta.

Similarity with regular teeth function

Dentures play a great role in the human mouth. They are invaluable and can perform various functions just like the human teeth, some of which include:

• They allow the wearer to chew and eat properly
• They help improve the smile and overall appearance of the wearer
• They fill gaps in the mouth which would be otherwise open
• They improve speech and word pronunciations allowing the wearer to talk properly after some practice.

Dentures are great alternatives for normal teeth

Similar to how we have unique teeth, dentures are custom made using an impression of your mouth. They look and feel like real teeth and can be worn periodically as needed. Moreover, you can choose between partial or full set dentures depending on the number of teeth you lost.

Bottomline

Dentures are prosthetic devices that are built to last. They can last for up to 7 years before they need replacing and can be easily adjusted to fit changes in jawbone structure as you age.

We hope this blog post was able to satisfy your questions about dentures. However, if you have additional questions or would like to speak with a dental professional about your concerns, please feel free to contact us.