Do you wear traditional dentures or denture implants? Here are 4 ways to take care of your gums and ease any discomfort while wearing your replacement teeth.
While full or partial traditional dentures are an affordable and convenient solution for missing teeth, wearing them for the first time can be a difficult experience. You must remember that it will take some time and patience to get used to the new sensation.
During the first month of wearing dentures, it’s typical to experience:
- difficulty speaking
- inability to eat your favourite foods
- changes in your sense of taste
- mouth sores and/or blisters
Benefits of Denture Implants
Denture implants are an excellent alternative to traditional dentures and provide a much more natural, comfortable, and convenient tooth replacement option. Because they don’t sit directly on your gums, you’re less likely to experience mouth sores, shifting false teeth, and speech/eating difficulties.
Comprehensive Denture Care in Calgary
At Future Smiles, we offer a wide range of tooth replacement solutions from full or partial dentures to implant-supported dentures, to ensure you find an option that best suits your lifestyle, budget, and needs.
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4 Tips For Keeping Your Gums Healthy While Wearing Dentures
If you are missing some or all of your natural teeth, and are wearing traditional or partial dentures, then both need special care. This is because there is a strong relationship between caring properly for your dentures and your overall oral and general health.
To help you keep your gums healthy, and maintain your general health, here are 6 tips for taking care of your gums while wearing dentures:
1. Give Your Mouth a Break
When you get your dentures, your denturist will tell you that it’s important to remove your replacement teeth before you go to bed. Why? Dentures cause wear and tear on your mouth, and rub against your gums and jawbone.
You should remember that, if your dentures are left in for too long, or never taken out, this can lead to undesirable consequences.
Some consequences include:
- gum infections
- inflammation
- hum sores
- unpleasant denture odour
By removing them at night, for at least 6-8 hours, you’ll be sure to give your gums time to recover from the pressure they receive during the day, and you’ll lower your risk of oral problems.
2. Clean Your Dentures Properly
Just like your natural teeth, your dentures require daily cleanings because they can build up stains, tartar, and dangerous bacteria.
To help care for your gums and dentures, here are some things you should remember:
- Brush your dentures daily using a soft toothbrush.
- NEVER use toothpaste as this will scratch your dentures.
- Soak your dentures overnight.
- Never use toothpicks or dental scrapers on your dentures.
- Never use warm or boiling water to clean your dentures as this will warp them and ruin their fit.
3. Handle Your Dentures Carefully
Although dentures are designed to be durable, they can break easily if they fall, so you should be careful when handling them.
- When cleaning your dentures, make sure to do it over a bowl of water or folded towel, just in case they drop.
- Avoid using toothpicks or foreign objects when wearing them to avoid scratching the material.
- Avoid using your front dentures on harder foods as this will cause them to chip or break. Always take small bites as this will prevent breakage or wear of your dentures.
Making sure your dentures are always in good condition will ensure the health of the rest of your mouth, and keep your gums comfortable and infection free.
What To Do If Dentures Are Damaged
4. Visit Your Denturist Regularly
Even if you do clean your dentures regularly, and handle them with care, it’s still important to visit your local denturist for annual professional checkups and cleanings.
During this visit, your denturist will be able to:
- complete a fit and function test to ensure your dentures are fitting properly
- remove any stains on your replacement teeth
- provide advice on how to deal with gum sores or any other discomfort
- perform any repairs or replacements to ensure your false teeth are working optimally
Call Today
To find out more about our comprehensive denture solutions, including flexible partials and denture implants, contact our Calgary clinic at (403) 475-0016 or book a consultation.
