Dentures

Once you’ve got your dentures and they start to become part of your everyday life it’s important to keep visiting your dentist regularly so you can make sure your oral health is in the best possible shape.

Your dentist can also make sure that you’re getting the very best out of your dentures and that they continue to fit you perfectly.

It is important that your dentist continues to check your mouth even if you no longer have teeth.

You should not need to use denture fixative (adhesive) if the dentures fit properly. However, if your jawbone has shrunk a lot, adhesive may be the only way to help retain them.

Some people feel more confident with their dentures if they use adhesive, at least at first. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and try not to use excessive amounts.

Adhesive can be removed from the denture by brushing with soap and water. Remnants of adhesive left in the mouth may need to be removed with some damp kitchen roll or a clean damp flannel.

See your dentist if you have a loose fit
See your dentist promptly if your dentures become loose. Loose dentures can be a cause of irritation, sores and infection.

When you receive your new dentures you should practice eating with them slowly, taking in small amounts of food until you become accustomed to them as this will feel strange at first and normally fell quite a mouthful until you get used to them.

When you begin eating with your new dentures, it is important to start slowly. Eating may present difficulties. In fact, it is the most difficult part of mastering your new dentures. You must not be discouraged if you experience a few failures at first. When chewing on one side you may notice a tendency for the dentures to tip and loosen on the opposite side. Attempt to chew on both sides with the teeth. This will help prevent your dentures from tipping.

Begin with eating food that does not need hard chewing. Also take smaller mouthfuls and chew slowly and evenly. Cut the food into smaller pieces that can easily be put into your mouth, try eating porridge or yoghurt. As you become more skilled at using your dentures, you will be able to try harder and tougher foods. You can gradually start to eat other types of food until you are back to your old diet. Never use toothpicks.

A new denture will settle fully in approximately 2-4 weeks. During this stage they bed deeper in the mouth and are most likely to cause soreness, this is normal.

If they become too sore, remove them, revert back to your old dentures until we can get you in for an adjustment. You should now telephone us for an appointment to adjust the dentures.

Even if your mouth is sore, please be sure to wear your dentures for the whole day, if you can tolerate it, before the appointment, otherwise it may be difficult to tell where the pressure spot is.

You should persevere learning to use your new dentures but not if they make you sore.

At first, you may also find that you bite your tongue and cheeks, but this usually corrects itself after a short time when the muscles have adjusted themselves to the new support. Depending on the amount and rate of change occurring in the mouth, an individual may require many adjustment appointments and up to one month to adapt to new dentures.

Dentures may break if you drop them. Always clean your dentures over a bowl of water or a folded towel in case you drop them. To clean your denture, the general rule is: brush, soak and brush again.

Brush your dentures before soaking them, to help remove any bits of food. Using an effervescent (fizzy) denture cleaner will help remove stubborn stains and leave your denture feeling fresher – always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Then brush the dentures again, as you would your own teeth.

Rinse after meals and Brush
Rinse your denture after every meal and remove debris by brushing with a SOFT brush, soap and water. You must take your denture out to be able to clean all surfaces. Soap will gently clean your denture without damaging it. Some toothpastes and denture cleaning pastes may be too abrasive. Check with your dentist or hygienist before using any alternative products.

Soak with denture solution or tablets every evening
Rinse dentures before putting them back in your mouth, especially if using a denture-soaking solution. These solutions can contain harmful chemicals that cause vomiting, pain or burns if swallowed.

Do not wear dentures overnight
Soak your denture in cold water overnight to prevent it drying out which could cause it to crack or warp and may not fit.

Warning: Inappropriate use of denture cleaning agents may damage your denture.

Never use boiling or very hot water, this may distort or cause bleaching of the denture.

Do not use acid cleaners with dentures with metal components.

Household cleaners, scouring powders and bleaches can damage your denture.

As a rule, it is advisable to remove dentures at night, especially if you have a tendency to grind your teeth when you sleep. This protects your gums if you grind your teeth and allows your saliva to wash around your mouth naturally, cleansing your gums. This will help reduce the chances of gum infections and bad breath. A partial denture must always be removed as it may damage your remaining teeth and gums if left in 24 hours a day.

Replacing lost or missing teeth is very good for your health and appearance. A complete or full denture replaces your natural teeth and gives support to your cheeks and lips. Without this support, sagging facial muscles can make a person look older and they will find it harder to eat and speak properly.

Dentures can be made to closely match your natural teeth so that your appearance hardly changes. Modern dentures can often improve the look of your smile and help to fill out the appearance of your face.

If you treat your dentures well, they should last several years. However, your dentures will need to be relined or re-made because of normal wear, or a change in the shape of your mouth. Bone and gum ridges can shrink, causing your jaws to meet differently. Loose dentures can cause discomfort, and health problems including sores and infections. A loose or badly fitting denture can also make eating and talking more difficult. It is important to replace worn or badly fitting dentures before they cause problems.

There are two main types and we’ve described the differences below. Your dentist will explain which option will best fit with your lifestyle.

Full dentures, upper and lower dentures
These are recommended when all natural teeth either in your upper or lower arch (or both) need replacing.

Partial dentures
These are recommended when some (just one or more) natural teeth need replacing. They also help maintain the alignment of your remaining teeth and keep them from shifting.

A denture is an appliance that is worn over the gums to replace missing natural teeth. Dentures are normally removable and are usually made from lifelike resin teeth bonded to an acrylic or chrome base. Gaps left by missing teeth can cause problems with eating and speech, and teeth either side of the gap may grow into the space at an angle.

Dentures improve chewing ability and speech, and provide support for facial muscles filling out your face and improving confidence.