Dentures are removable false teeth that come with a host of benefits, including helping to improve how you eat and speak, as well as boosting your confidence by restoring your smile. They can also enhance facial shape, especially around the lips and in the cheek area. You can either have partial dentures for a few missing teeth or full dentures to replace a whole set of teeth on the upper or lower jaw.
If you are missing a single tooth, or have multiple missing teeth you would like to replace, dentures are a strong, stable and effective option. They are usually made from acrylic, or a combination of acrylic and metal, and modern materials mean that partial dentures will blend in beautifully with existing teeth and complete dentures can pass for the real thing.
Replacing a full set of teeth with complete dentures provides vital support to your facial structure, keeping it from prematurely sagging around your cheeks and jaw. Partial dentures help your remaining natural teeth stay in position, stopping them moving and causing you problems with misalignment.
Dentures are designed to be hard-wearing, but they will last longer if you treat them with care. Dentures should be removed before you go to bed so your gums can have a rest, but they must be stored in water or denture fluid as they could lose their shape if allowed to dry out.
Clean your dentures with a toothbrush or a special denture brush and remember to keep your gums and any remaining teeth clean too. You will also need to attend regular check-ups so your dentist and hygienist can keep an eye on your oral health.
You should wear your dentures for around 8 hours a day at least. This gives your jawbone and gums time to get used to the dentures and prevents sore spots from developing. It is preferable to take them out at night time to give your gums a chance to rest.
It’s best to avoid hard & chewy foods, as well as sticky or spicy foods and alcohol while your mouth is sore or healing. To get used to the feeling of dentures, you should try not to rush eating so you can focus on the eating process and take small bites or cut up your food into bitesize pieces so less chewing is required.
It can take a little while to get used to your new dentures, especially if they are a complete set. They may feel odd at first and eating can be tricky, so it may be a good idea to start with softer foods and slowly introduce more challenging items. The amount of saliva in your mouth may increase, but this should soon improve as your mouth gets used to your replacement teeth.
Initially, speaking may be difficult but you can improve this by reading aloud. If you are experiencing any sore spots in your mouth, the denture surface may need some adjustment.
