Whether some or all of your teeth are missing, partial and complete dentures offer a solution that results in a rewarding smile. But just because your new dentures aren’t
natural doesn’t mean you don’t have to care for them. Here’s how you should do so.

Clean Your Dentures Every Day

Like natural teeth, dentures can become stained, build tartar and gather bacteria. And dentures with plague can result in problems with the tissues underneath, leading to severe irritation and infection. To prevent unsanitary and painful problems with your dentures, brush them with a soft-bristled toothbrush while using hand soap, a mild dishwashing detergent or a non-abrasive toothpaste.

Give Your Dentures a Rest

Dentists recommend that you take out your dentures before going to sleep for the night. This allows your mouth’s tissues to recover from wearing them throughout the day. If you’re unable to do so at night, take out your dentures during another time of the day for at least six hours – eight is optimal. If your dentures have metal clasps, remember to soak them in warm water. If not, you can soak your dentures in a half-water, half-vinegar solution if you don’t want to use a denture cleanser.

Visit Your Dentist for Regular Checkups

Whether it’s replacing old dentures that have become loose, adjusting new ones that cause pain or just going in for a regular checkup, visiting your dentist when you have dentures is as important as when you have natural teeth. By ignoring the dental office, a sore could become cancerous – and that’s not a risk worth taking!

One of biggest benefits – and most notable signs – of new dentures is how much better they make your smile look. And when it comes to leaving a confident first impression, your smile is usually going to either make or break the deal.

While adjusting to a life with dentures takes time, and your smile initially won’t feel like your own, there are ways to speed the process up. Once you’ve acclimated to your dentures, your smile will feel as natural as ever – and so will your confidence.

Eat Soft Foods

Eating and speaking will be your biggest challenges when adjusting to a life with dentures. To help your mouth acclimate to your new dentures, eat slowly. Remember to also stay away from hard foods like nuts or raw vegetables. Soft foods like eggs and yogurt are your best options until you can chew harder foods.

Visit Your Dentist if You Feel Soreness

If you feel soreness when wearing your new dentures, it’s your mouth telling you it’s having a hard time adjusting to them. Schedule an appointment with your dentist so that he or she can make the necessary changes. Remember to continue to wear your dentures through the soreness so your dentist can find the pained pressure points.

Take Care of Your Dentures

If you want to keep a white and natural-looking smile, you need to clean your dentures on a regular basis – just like your natural teeth. Although adjusting to a life of denture cleaning isn’t too different from one with natural teeth, it’s best to stick to a routine so your dentures leave a lasting impression for a long time to come.

Thanks to major advancements in the dental industry, dentists now have the technology to show their patients the potential of their smiles. In today’s digital age, you can sit with your dentist and decide on the smile you want to leave with.

With smile design and imaging, your dentist can show you the way your smile will look before he or she even starts working on it. To improve your smile’s appearance and the overall health of your teeth, you and your dentist can negotiate every detail as part of the process, deciding on where to whiten and make adjustments.

Once you and your dentist agree on a customized treatment option that will bring your smile back to life, the smile design and imaging technology will create an accurate simulation that will depict what your finished smile will look like. The final depiction will include all customized adjustments, including any coloring or spacing.

The biggest benefit of smile design and imaging is that it offers the patient the chance to customize his or her own smile. This puts the power of your smile back in your hands, giving you all the flexibility to instruct the dentist on what you want.  Of course, when it comes to your oral health, your dentist will still reign supreme.

Once you’ve gotten dentures, you might have a few more questions for your dentist before you go home with your new smile. Here are three important ones. 

How much denture adhesive should I apply? 

Using the right denture adhesive is the first step toward settling into your new smile. This, of course, will depend on whether you get full or partial dentures. Your dentist can provide more information on which variety will work best for you. When applying denture adhesive, it’s advised that you apply no more than three dabs of it – about the size of a pencil’s eraser – on either the upper or lower part of the denture that fits against your mouth. Ensure it’s evenly spread.

How often should I visit my dentist after I get dentures?

It’s almost certain that you will have to visit your dentist after you get your dentures so that he or she can adjust them appropriately. Soreness is the first sign of your dentures pressing against one or more pressure points. After two to four weeks of adjustments, which can mean multiple dental visits, your mouth will feel natural.

How do I take care of my mouth after my dentures settle?

Avoiding hard foods and cleaning your dentures regularly are the two most important things you can do to ensure your dentures last. Coffee, popcorn, and nuts are generally considered bad for dentures. If you’re afraid of cracking or staining your new dentures, don’t forget to ask your dentist about preventative oral care. For more information about how dentures might impact your life, or if you would like to inquire about an initial denture consultation, contact our dental office today.

Are you thinking about getting dentures? Don’t worry, a lot of people are. Here’s what you might want to ask your dentist when you call for an initial consultation.

What kinds of different dentures are there, and which should I choose?

When getting dentures, you can ask your dentist about either a full or a partial set. Your dentist will likely prescribe full dentures, which you can get in the upper, lower or both parts of your mouth, if you need a large portion of your natural teeth replaced. If you only need one tooth or a small amount replaced, your dentist will advise that you get partial dentures and provide more details about the process.

What will dentures feel like?

After you get your new dentures, you will likely feel discomfort while your mouth adjusts and settles. Soreness is common, and you should continue to wear your dentures until your dentist makes the necessary adjustments. Once you break your dentures in, which can take two to four weeks, your mouth will feel as though you have a set of natural teeth. If pain persists, contact your local dentist immediately. 

What can I expect when eating, drinking, or speaking with my dentures? 

When it comes to eating, drinking, and speaking, there are many things to keep in mind that your dentist will cover. New dentures will affect how you perform each.

• Eating. The most important note to remember about eating when getting dentures is to do so slowly. It’ll be your biggest challenge moving chewing forward.
• Drinking. You will do plenty of this as your mouth adjusts to your dentures. A fresh smoothie can work wonders for soreness! If you’re a coffee drinker, don’t forget to ask your dentist about how to clean stains.
• Speaking. Speaking, much like eating, will also seem like a test from time to time. That’s because your tongue will have to learn where your teeth are when you get new dentures.