Have Concerns About Getting Dentures? Here's Why Your Fears Are Unnecessary

Dentist Blog

If you have missing or decayed teeth, then dentures can make your life a lot better. If you're putting off getting dentures because of bad things you've heard, you should let your dentist know about your concerns. Most problems with dentures are only temporary, or they are problems that can be fixed if your dentist knows about them. If you have any of the fears below, you may be worrying for no reason.

Concerns About Comfort

It's true you'll go through a period of adjustment when you first get dentures. That's because you have to get used to wearing them in your mouth. Some discomfort in the first days is to be expected because this is the customization phase. Be sure to point out areas where your dentures rub your gums or don't fit properly. Your dentist can make adjustments to them until they fit your mouth comfortably. Once the dentures have been properly adjusted, and you are accustomed to wearing them, they shouldn't bother you at all.

However, you have to maintain good oral hygiene too. If you don't keep your dentures sanitary, you could get a gum infection that makes your mouth sore. Also, your mouth shape may change over the years. If your gums shrink, your dentures will get loose and they may slip and cause soreness. When that happens, let your dentist know, so your plates can be adjusted again. You should never have to tolerate uncomfortable dentures. They should be completely comfortable in your mouth, and they should even feel better than having a mouth full of decayed teeth.

Worries About Dietary Changes

Once your dentures are broken in, you should be able to eat a normal diet. However, in the beginning, you'll need to start with a soft food diet until you get used to chewing with artificial teeth. It's also a good idea to take smaller bites, and to avoid sharp and crunchy foods until you get a feel for having dentures in your mouth. If you seem to have trouble biting into apples and other foods, you can use denture adhesive. Another option is to get dentures that snap onto implants. These attach to your jawbone, and are just as strong as your normal teeth.

It's a good idea to avoid very hard foods, because you can chip an artificial tooth just as you can chip one of your real ones. You may not want to crunch on ice chips or hard candies. If you do chip a tooth, your dentist can probably repair it, so you don't have to buy a whole new plate. One thing to keep in mind about eating with dentures is to chew on both sides of your mouth, so the dentures wear down evenly.

Most of the complaints you've probably heard about dentures result from dentures that don't fit properly. If you have regular dental visits (at a place such as Silverado Family Dental) and work closely with your dentist to keep your dentures fitting well, then you can eliminate many problems such as trouble speaking, denture slipping, soreness, and problems with chewing. Other problems such as bad odor and gum infections come about if you don't clean your dentures well. With proper care and a good fit, you shouldn't have any serious complaints at all.

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29 December 2014

Mouth Rinses Are Not Just for Bad Breath

I have always brushed and flossed my teeth daily, but I still had the occasional cavity when I visited the dentist for a check-up. He told me it was normal to have a cavity on occasion and that I shouldn't let it stress me out too much. Well, I am not one to just accept any problem I am having, so I started looking into how to improve my oral hygiene even more. I had always thought mouthwash was just to improve your breath, but I found some that said they helped keep cavities away. I started using one every day before bed. I haven't had a cavity in two years now, and I think the mouth rinse is the reason! I created this blog to remind other people that even if they brush and floss regularly, they can always find ways to take even better care of their teeth.