If you are experiencing issues such as multiple dental cavities, gum disease or tooth decay, getting dentures is something worth considering. Likewise, if you have been involved in an accident that has damaged and weakened your teeth or if you have a medical condition such as diabetes that has led to tooth loss, getting dentures may be in your best interest.
A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. Taking into consideration how many of your healthy teeth remain, you may need either partial dentures or full dentures.
· Partial dentures: Partial dentures are used when some of your natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw, but they are fragile and cannot support structures such as dental bridges. Using an acrylic or metal frame, partial dentures have small clasps that hold together the remaining teeth, thereby filling in the missing spaces, and preventing other teeth from changing position.
· Full dentures: Full dentures, also known as complete dentures, are used when all of your natural teeth are missing. They can be properly adjusted to fit your healed gums on the top and bottom, and they are held in place with the help of an oral adhesive. They are also easily removable.
Whether you get partial dentures or full dentures, there are some issues that you may encounter after you first start wearing them, and as you are getting used to them.
5 of the most common denture issues include:
1. Difficulty eating – When you first get dentures, you may find eating to be quite a challenge. Biting down or chewing your food may cause your dentures to slip out of place. Similarly, some types of foods, such as nuts and seeds, can get lodged in under your dentures, thereby triggering pain and discomfort.
Eating with dentures takes a bit of practice, so start with soft foods that are easy to eat. After a while, you will find that you can eat most of the same foods you ate before you got dentures.
2. Trouble speaking – Speaking may be another issue once you get dentures. Many individuals describe it as having a foreign object in the mouth. For this reason, practice moving your tongue to form correct sounds. With time, you will find that speaking with dentures will sound and feel natural.
3. Difficulty cleaning – Caring for your dentures vs. caring for your teeth is not the same thing. However, regardless of whether you wear partial or full dentures, cleaning them on a daily basis is a must. Start by taking them out of your mouth and running them under water to get rid of any food residue. From there, brush them gently with a denture brush or very soft toothbrush using a dissolvable denture cleaner or a mild soap.
Additionally, rinse your dentures after every meal and before going to bed, place them in a warm, denture-soaking solution to avoid cracking or misshaping.
4. Slipping dentures – Muscle power is a necessity when it comes to keeping dentures in position. Still, from time to time, they may slip out of place. This can happen while you are eating, talking, smiling, laughing or even coughing.
If your new dentures slip out of place, try to reattach them by gently biting down and swallowing. Denture adhesive is also helpful. If, however, denture slippage occurs far too often, consult with your dentist. The dentures may need to be adjusted to fit better or they may need to be replaced with a new pair.
5. Pain and mouth sores – It is quite common to experience pain and mouth sores after wearing dentures for a couple of hours. When this occurs, try rinsing your mouth with warm salt water to alleviate sore spots or using a denture adhesive to reduce irritation.
Getting used to wearing dentures may present a few challenges at first, but you can rest assured that these issues will resolve themselves with time. You just need to be patient and mindful of your daily dental habits.
Restoring your smile
Tooth loss can cause a number of oral health problems, such as pain, discomfort, and infection of the gums and bones. This is why it is important that you do not postpone treatment, including getting dentures.
At Aesthetic Denture Clinic, our well-trained and highly-skilled team of professionals can help you to decide which denture option is best for you. We construct, supply, and repair all types of dentures using materials superior in quality and lifelike in appearance. Our aim is to help you regain the confidence to eat, speak, and smile with dentures that are customised to meet your individual needs and expectations.
Contact the team at Aesthetic Dentures today to see how we can help you eliminate any issues you may have with your dentures.
