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Tips for first time denture wearers

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02-02-2022

5 TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME DENTURE WEARERS

Whatever the reason is that you now need to wear dentures, know that you are not alone.  It’s estimated that 4 million people in the UK wear some sort of denture, whether it be partial dentures or full dentures. Living with dentures is a major adjustment that gets easier with time.

If you’re missing a tooth or two, you’re in good company. Almost three-quarters of Brits are without their full set of natural teeth, and 6% have none left at all. But if you’re in the 94% who still have some of their natural teeth, don’t get too smug. Only 10% of us are actually considered to have ‘excellent’ oral health.

In this blog post, we will give our top five tips for first-time denture wearers so you can make an easier transition. For more information, we recommend you speak with a reputable family dentist in your area.

It will take time to get used to your new dentures.

Don’t rush yourself with your new teeth. As with any foreign object in the mouth, it’ll take time for your tongue, cheeks and other teeth to get used to your new denture. If you’ve been missing teeth for some time, you may find that you end up biting your tongue or cheeks more often, but this will be due to lack of muscle memory. Your tongue and cheeks actually learn to get out of the way of your natural teeth so you don’t bite yourself. Cool eh?

So just bare in mind that it may take 2 or 3 weeks for you to get fully comfortable with them, and maybe a little longer to learn to eat with them in.

Lower dentures are always harder to get used to as well, due to the lack of suction keeping them in place. The uppers rely on good suction to keep them in place, so they should be easier. But with your lowers, your tongue will learn to keep the denture in place after a few weeks.

Never Let Your Dentures Dry Out

Your natural teeth are never dry because they are constantly bathed by the saliva in your mouth. Likewise, your dentures should always be submerged in water or a denture cleanser soaking solution. Dentures that have been allowed to dry out will warp and crack. Since dentures are an investment in your smile and oral health, it’s important to make sure your dentures always remain wet. We also say this because it’d advised that you take your dentures out at night to give your soft tissues a break, and to help prevent bacterial build up, which can cause skin irritation and sores.

Brush Your Dentures

Just like you brush your natural teeth, you will need to brush your dentures. Over time, plague and odor-causing bacteria can build up on your dentures and give you bad breath. Food particles can also linger and create stains on your new dental restoration. Brushing your dentures daily will help ensure you have a beautiful happy smile for years to come. If you do have any questions regarding this, please ask a member of the team. We will be able to show you how to care for your new denture, and we usually have denture brush samples in the practice.

Brush Your Gums and Tongue

Did you know that your gums are just are important as your natural teeth for maintaining good oral health? Bacteria left to fester in the mouth can cause gum disease if you don’t brush on a daily basis. Among adults, gingivitis is especially common. It only makes sense that you would want the gums that your dentures sit on to be as healthy as possible. The soft toothbrush bristles also help stimulate your gums.

Practice Talking

Don’t be discouraged if you have difficulty saying certain words. This is perfectly normal for people who have just started wearing dentures. Your lips, cheeks, and tongue will have to adjust to speaking with new dentures. Rest assured you won’t always speak with a lisp. In the meantime, we recommend reading aloud one of your favorite books to practice pronunciation. Any experienced dentist would advise you the more you practice speaking with your new dentures, the better.

 

Follow these tips and you should be a top denture wearer in no time! But if you do have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

 

www.halesowendental.co.uk

0121 550 6958

0737 550 6958

info@halesowendental.co.uk

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