Nov
Perhaps your tooth loss was expected, or maybe it was due to trauma or disease and gave you little time to prepare. Regardless of the reason why you lost a tooth, or many teeth, the process of having them replaced can be overwhelming. There are many decisions to be made and once the process is complete and you have a happy smile again, the next, and final, step is keeping it that way.
If you opted for dentures, you may have many questions about how to best care for them. Should you leave them in or take them out at night? Can you eat certain foods? Can you brush them with regular toothpaste? Do you need to brush them at all? Below, Dr. Dean Dietrich of Pleasant Dental® in Dolton, IL, offers his suggestions for keeping your dentures beautiful and strong for many years.
First it’s important to note that it may take a few weeks until you become comfortable wearing the dentures. This is normal and will get better with time. Your mouth and the muscles in your mouth simply need to adjust to the dentures. While some discomfort is to be expected, you should not feel pain. If you’re very uncomfortable it’s worth a call to your dentist to have the dentures adjusted.
Once you become comfortable with the dentures you should be able to speak clearly and without worry about the dentures slipping or causing your speech to be different. Further, you should be able to eat most of your favorite foods. However, just like with your original teeth, some foods could cause the dentures to break or could pull the dentures out of place. Caramel or foods that are very chewy could be troublesome, as could hard pretzels or foods that are hard. These items should be eaten with some caution.
Patients should also be careful with the dentures when they’re removed from the mouth. Try placing a soft towel across the bathroom counter or filling the sink with water just in case they slip from your hand. Also, dentures should be kept moist when they’re not in the mouth, so be sure to keep them in water or a denture solution.
Finally, when brushing the dentures be sure to use an appropriate cleaner. Most regular toothpastes are too abrasive for dentures. Ask your dentist what he or she recommends.
Dr. Dean Dietrich of Pleasant Dental® in Dolton, IL, has been helping patients achieve and keep beautiful smiles for many years. For more information about dentures or other tooth replacement options, call our office today.
Dr. Dean Dietrich founded Pleasant Dental® with the vision of serving his community by providing high-value comfortable care. Dr. D. has over 30 years of expertise and continues to be very passionate about his work. He and team enjoy caring for fearful patients and providing care in a unique upbeat, even fun way.