Dentures are an incredible orthodontic advancement that helps people to regain their confidence and restore their lives. No matter why you have dentures, we know that with all the positive features of dentures there are some common complaints that occur with dentures, especially when you first have them put in.
Today we will go over the five most common complaints about dentures and how to fix them.
Difficulty Eating
Many people who have dentures needed them because they either had constant tooth pain or were missing too many teeth either on the top or bottom of their mouth, or both. With dentures, you can eat food again without feeling excruciating pain or the discomfort of having food stuck between teeth that is difficult to get out. However, eating with dentures will take some time to get used to. Here are some helpful tips to help you adjust to your new dentures while eating food:
- Chew your food slowly. Chew your food more slowly than you would have in the past. This will help to ensure your dentures do not become dislodged while eating, plus you’ll be able to digest your meal more easily.
- Take smaller bites. Dentures, while created to fit your mouth, will also mean that you have less room in your mouth than before. Because of this size difference, take smaller bites.
- Avoid certain foods at first. Avoid eating foods that are sticky or that you have to bite into like steaks, burgers, pizzas, etc,. Once you are used to eating with your dentures and feel confident you can explore eating these foods.
Difficulty Speaking
Having dentures can make it difficult to speak like you used to, at least at first. Having this new device in your mouth that takes up extra room can make it harder to say some words. You’ll find you may need to speak slower to pronounce words correctly at first. Additionally, increased saliva will make it hard to speak without having a lisp at the end of some of your words. Be patient, and over time you’ll be speaking, yelling, and singing just like you did before dentures.
They Don’t Fit
Sometimes, when chewing is extremely difficult it’s because your dentures don’t fit correctly. This is a common problem among many people because after your teeth are removed for dentures your gums and jaws will swell. Many Idaho Falls dentists will take this into account when creating your dentures. However, over time your gums and jaw will go through natural changes because of your missing teeth. Very rarely do the first set of dentures fit perfectly. When dentures don’t fit correctly they can cause trouble with chewing, talking, and can even be painful and cause sores in the mouth. Chances are you’ll need some adjustments as your mouth and jaw mold around your dentures in the future. If your dentures seem off, contact your Idaho Falls dentist for an adjustment.
Mouth Sores & Irritated Gums
When you first get your dentures, gum irritation and mouth sores are a common problem. Just like when a person gets braces, your mouth isn’t used to the new orthodontic equipment in your mouth and it causes irritation. While we can’t give you any tips on how to never have mouth irritation from dentures. We can give you some ideas to help you relieve some of the pain and reduce the chance of mouth infections.
- Keep your dentures clean. Brush and soak them as suggested by your Idaho Falls orthodontist.
- Gargle with warm saltwater. This will help to reduce pain and swelling as well as decrease infections from occurring.
Cleaning Issues
As you’ll quickly find out, cleaning your dentures is not the same as cleaning your natural teeth and gums. Because of this, you’ll need to create a new daily and nightly routine to clean your dentures to keep them looking great and lasting a long time. Unfortunately, many people when they first get dentures don’t take the time to learn how to properly clean them and may end up damaging their new teeth. However, as this article from Colgate explains, the damage is avoidable if you take the proper steps and precautions to clean your dentures the right way.
- The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends brushing your teeth daily with a soft or medium toothbrush (discuss specific toothbrushes designed for dentures with your orthodontist).
- When brushing your dentures, you’ll want to avoid using regular toothpaste because it can scratch your dentures. You can use a commercial denture cleaner or mild hand and dish soap to clean your dentures.
- To brush your dentures, remove them from your mouth and make sure you have a good grip on them so you don’t drop your dentures. Lay a towel down in the sink just in case.
If your dentures are bothering you, whether from slippage while eating or talking mouth sores or if you need help on how to clean your dentures properly, contact your Idaho Falls dentist, Comfort Care Dental today.