Dentures

Wearing and caring for false teeth

People are paying more attention than ever to their teeth. Sales of products for teeth whitening and straightening are soaring, and cosmetic procedures for improving the look and functionality of teeth are growing increasingly more popular. And for good reason – not only do good-looking teeth greatly improve personal appearance and overall self-confidence for many people, but the health benefits of having good strong functional teeth are self-evident.

Good physical health depends upon good teeth, in more ways than one. The most obvious is that we require teeth to break down our food and aid digestion. When teeth are broken, out of alignment or missing, this process is impeded or sometimes made so painful that steps need to be taken to remedy the situation.

Dentures

For those who have lost many or all of their teeth, dentures have long been a solution to restoring the cosmetic effect, as well as the functional benefits, of teeth. The cost of dentures depends on several factors, including the experience of the dentist and the materials used to make the dentures. If you have the budget (or the health insurance) for it, a prosthodontist will make top-of-the line dentures from cross-linked polymer materials that look more natural and last longer than plastic. More affordable dentures made of conventional plastic materials will work just as well, but look more like false teeth.

Whether they are partial dentures, which replace a few missing teeth, or complete dentures, which replace all teeth in the mouth, there are things to know about how to wear and care for your dentures.

Wear and Care

Learning to wear and work with new dentures often takes a little time. Because they are not your normal teeth, and you have spent a lifetime with your teeth, the slight variances in dentures will take some time to get used to. Be patient and take it slow, to avoid inadvertent biting of the tongue, for example. Many people find that in the initial weeks of having their new dentures that eating either a mostly liquid or soft food diet helps in the adjustment. Those who stick with more solid food find that cutting their food into smaller bites and eating slowly is very helpful. Also, avoiding sticky foods can be helpful.

Dentures can be uncomfortable in the initial days of having them, as sore spots can appear on the gums that the dentures rest against. Again, take it slow, eat softer foods, drink plenty of fluid with your meals, and give your gums time to get adjusted.