6 Important Things You Should Know About Dentures
Tooth loss can happen for multiple reasons, such as dental trauma, natural aging, advanced gum disease, and other factors. Unfortunately, losing a tooth or teeth can significantly impact your bite function, speech abilities, facial appearance, and oral health. For these reasons, it’s best to replace missing teeth as soon as possible.
If you’ve lost a few or all of your real teeth, a denture is a reliable and cost-effective way to restore your bite function, smile, and oral health. Compared to alternative replacement treatments like dental implants or bridges, getting a denture is more affordable, quicker, and less invasive.
What is a denture?
A denture consists of artificial teeth and gums that replace lost teeth and surrounding tissues. Dentures are placed over the gums, teeth (if any), and bones, covering up the gaps left by missing teeth. Apart from filling the gaps, dentures improve your bite function, speech, oral health, and self-confidence.
If you have or considering dentures near you, below are six facts you should know about dentures:
- There are different types of dentures
Dentures come in different forms. The denture you get will depend on the number of lost teeth, budget, lifestyle, dental history, preferences, and other factors. Complete and partial dentures are the primary types of dentures.
Complete dentures are necessary if you’ve lost all your real teeth on either or both jaws. Partial dentures are perfect for replacing one or a few missing teeth. If you’re considering a more stable solution, implant-supported dentures are well worth it.
- Denture hygiene is crucial
Like your real teeth, dentures also require excellent oral hygiene and habits. While they won’t develop cavities, poor hygiene when using dentures increases the risk of oral problems. For instance, not brushing teeth and dentures daily can encourage bacterial plaque, eventually leading to gum disease, tooth decay, discoloration, and more.
Every night when sleeping, remove and brush your dentures thoroughly. Use a soft-bristled brush, denture cleaner, or warm water to clean the dentures. Regularly soak them overnight to help remove bacterial plaque and other debris. Make sure you brush your mouth after removing the denture at night and before wearing it in the morning.
- You should remove your dentures when not in use
Unlike dental implants and bridges, you can remove dentures as needed. Removing dentures at night is advisable to allow your mouth to rest and breathe. Not removing the dentures for long periods will likely cause bad breath, irritation, and discomfort and encourage bacterial plaque, increasing your risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
After removing the denture, always clean it before storing it. Then, you can soak them overnight in a glass of water or denture solution or keep them in a clean, dry, and well-ventilated denture case.
- Dentures require patience and practice.
If you’re new to wearing dentures, you might have slight difficulty eating and speaking with them. For instance, you might feel the dentures move when chewing or speaking. It is normal since your tongue is unfamiliar with a foreign device in the mouth.
Practice chewing food and speaking with them to help you quickly get used to the dentures. After about four weeks, you’ll have adjusted and should be able to chew and speak normally. Notify your dentist if your new dentures feel too tight or loose. They may need adjusting for a perfect fit.
- The fit of dentures changes over time
As you age, different body parts, like the jawbone and gums, tend to weaken or shrink. Therefore, the fit of your denture is bound to change after several years. If your denture is loose, uncomfortable, or dislodged regularly, talk to your dentist for adjustments.
- Dentures don’t last forever
While dentures are durable, they won’t last forever. Over time, they can loosen, wear out, or even break. When this happens, see your dentist as soon as possible. Even if it seems like a minor issue, never attempt to repair or re-adjust the denture at home, as it will likely make things worse. Based on the condition of the denture, the dentist can repair, adjust, reline, or replace your denture.
Schedule an Appointment Today
Are you interested in dentures in York Harbor, MA? Contact York Dental Group for more information.