Dentures

It’s perfectly normal for your new dentures to feel a bit strange, and it may take a couple of weeks to get used to them.

Just like natural teeth, dentures can accumulate plaque and food debris. In addition to standard tooth brushing, dentures should be cleaned regularly in order to avoid staining and bad odours.

• Use a soft toothbrush or denture brush.
• Avoid using very hot water because it can distort the denture.
• Use a mild detergent. Abrasive cleaners and toothpaste can roughen the polished surface of the denture, and bleach can whiten the pink acrylic.
• Always wash your dentures over a basin full of water and hold them firmly. Dropping the denture can result in it chipping or breaking.
• Soak your dentures in cold water with denture cleaning tablets once a week to remove any stains and bacteria. Always rinse them thoroughly before putting them back in.
• When you’re not wearing your dentures, store them in water. They may lose their shape if they’re left to dry out.
• Your jawbone and gums naturally shrink over time, which can lead to your dentures fitting less securely. This can make it difficult to eat as well as cause pain, infections and changes to facial support. It’s important to visit your dentist every year so they can check and adjust your dentures to ensure an optimal fit.

Once you become accustomed to them, however, wearing your dentures will become second nature.

• Eating – It will take some practice to get used to eating with dentures. Initially, start with soft foods and cut them into small pieces. Also, try to remember to chew slowly using both sides of your mouth to prevent your dentures from tipping. Once you start to get used to eating with them, you can begin to introduce other foods and return to your normal diet.
• Increased salivary flow – It’s perfectly normal to experience an increase in saliva when your dentures are fitted. This is a natural response and should return to normal after a few weeks. In the meantime, simply swallowing more often can help.
• Speech – As you get used to your new dentures, you may find that your speech is affected. This rarely persists for more than two weeks, but reading out loud and practising troublesome words can speed up the adaptation process.
• Sore spots – Minor irritation caused by surface irregularities or pressure spots on the denture-bearing areas is common. Your dentist will be able to relieve any discomfort by adjusting the denture surface. If you’re experiencing a lot of pain, stop wearing the denture and contact your dentist immediately.