Caring for your dentures and your dental health.

Nowadays, dental health specialists want to assist you in maintaining your natural teeth for as long as feasible. Teeth can last a lifetime if properly maintained. But even with proper care, acquiring full or partial dentures can eventually be required to replace missing teeth.

You can carry on with normal eating and drinking with the aid of dentures. If parts of your teeth have suffered damage or are missing, they can also aid in maintaining your appearance.

What are dentures?

A denture can restore your missing teeth and supporting tissues. Complete and partial dentures are the two types of dentures that are available.

• Complete dentures: When all teeth in one jaw are lost, complete dentures are worn. The material for these dentures is usually plastic.
• Partial dentures: Dentists suggest partial dentures when some teeth are missing but healthy teeth are still present. The denture replaces the missing teeth. The material of these dentures can be plastic, metal, or a combination of the two. They typically feature tiny metal clasps that rest or grasp on the natural teeth to hold the denture in place. Your remaining teeth should be in good health to support the denture.

Getting used to dentures

People commonly say that new dentures feel odd and take a long time to adjust. Similarly, it could take some time before eating with dentures seems normal.

However, you can start by slowly eating soft foods and chopping up your food into small bits. You can reintroduce hard foods gradually, but you might not be able to eat every food you could before. The dentures may press against the gum tissues during eating, creating an uncomfortable place. If this occurs, make modifications as quickly as possible at your dental office.

You might sound slightly different and notice a "click" on your dentures. If your bone density is low, "denture glue" may be necessary to keep your dentures stable. Moreover, adjusting to talking with your dentures will also take some time. Therefore, consult a dental specialist if you experience problems that continue after a few weeks.

Complications related to dentures

Your dentures could give you some problems. If you observe any of the following symptoms, ask your oral health professional how often you should have your dentures checked.

• Pain
• Poorly fitting or uncomfortable dentures
• Tooth decay
• Bleeding gums
• Swelling
• A sore or ulcer that persists for more than two weeks
• A gum infection (pus-filled pain on the gum)
• Aches or cracks in your mouth's corner
• Poor breath

Caring for your dentures and dental health

Taking care of your dentures is crucial to maintain your dental health. Therefore, both before bed and in the morning, clean your dentures. It's vital to remove your dentures before sleeping. As a result, your mouth can relax and recover if your dentures are left out overnight. It aids in preventing fungus infections as well.

Furthermore, it is essential to brush your dentures thoroughly to get food and plaque buildup off of the denture's surfaces. Use denture paste or a denture brush with a bit of light soap and water. Since toothpaste has the potential to scrape dentures, it is not advised.

While your dentures are removed, you should also brush any natural teeth that are still present. Moreover, use fluoride toothpaste and a toothbrush with soft bristles. Remember to lightly brush any areas of your mouth that your dentures often cover. Your gums and the roof of your mouth fall within this category.

It is essential to store clean dentures in a sterile, dry container during the night. After meals, rinse them in cold water. Before re-entering the water, please give them a quick rinse under cold, fresh water.

Conclusion

The health of your mouth and your dentures depend on proper denture maintenance. Your dentist might suggest the most acceptable ways to maintain your dentures. Therefore, consult your dentist every six months if you wear dentures. Regular dental visits are necessary to ensure that your dentures fit correctly, to check for oral cancer and other disorders, to have your teeth cleaned, and to have your mouth and dentures checked.

Contact your Lafayette dentist, Dr. Massood Darvishzadeh, DDS at Lafayette Dental Group, to know more about dentures and dental health.

Resource:

Advantages and Disadvantages of Dentures

This media/content or any other on this website does not prescribe, recommend, or prevent any treatment or procedure. Therefore, we highly recommend that you get the advice of a qualified dentist or other medical practitioners regarding your specific dental condition.