Getting dentures is not the end of anything; on the contrary, it's the start of a life in which you will be able to enjoy many benefits that up till now you have missed out on. For starters, with either full or partial dentures, you can smile with more confidence knowing that your smile is no longer tainted by broken, decayed, or missing teeth. What's more, you'll never have to worry about painful, not to mention dangerous, abscesses keeping you up through the night.
Naturally; however, you'll have lots of questions. Here are some answers.
Eating with Dentures
At first, eating will be difficult. If you opt for immediate dentures, which are fitted just after your teeth have been extracted, you'll need to stick to soft foods, like soup and mashed potato for at least 3 weeks. After that, you can gradually move onto tougher foods.
If you choose to wait 6-9 months to allow your gums to heal before getting your permanent set of dentures, you will have to limit yourself to soft foods for the duration.
Speaking with Dentures
Dentures will affect the way you speak, especially at first. You may develop a lisp, but as you get used to your dentures and practice speaking with them, any speech impairment should gradually disappear.
Cleaning Dentures
It is advisable to use denture toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your dentures each morning and night. You should also soak your dentures overnight at least once a week in warm water with an added denture cleanser. Denture cleaners kill the microorganisms that might otherwise flourish on your dentures.
Sleeping with Dentures
In general, dentists advise their patients to keep their denture in for the first 24 hours as your gums are still healing, and the denture helps with the healing process by acting as a bandage. However, from then on, you should take out your dentures at night to give your gums a break and prevent sores from developing.
Keeping Dentures in Place
You may need to use a dental adhesive to keep your denture in place; however, some denture wearers find that their upper dentures stay in place due to the suction between the roof of the mouth and the plate. Adhesives come in goo and powder form.
Experiencing Pain with Dentures
There will be some pain at first. Your gums need time to heal. Furthermore, chewing might be painful for the first few days or even weeks so you should stick to soft foods at first.
Repairing Dentures
Your permanent set of dentures should last up to 7 years. However, dentures do degrade over time and may break, especially if they are ill-fitting. In emergencies you can buy a denture repair kit to fix them yourself, and some dentists can bond them back together. However, if your dentist is unable to fix your denture, you may need to wait around 3 weeks for them to be sent to and repaired at the lab they were created at.
Although dentures can never truly replace natural teeth, they are preferable to broken, decayed or missing teeth. Furthermore, they don't cause painful abscesses. In time, you'll grow to appreciate your dentures and all the benefits they offer.
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