3 Things You Should Know About Removable Dentures

Many people look at having removable dentures as an embarrassment, but having properly fitting, high quality dentures can make your life easier and more comfortable. Don’t be embarrassed about improving your lifestyle! To make your transition to dentures a bit less difficult, here are our top three tips for those new to removable dentures.

1. You Need to Soak Them Nightly.
   1. Dentures may look like they’re solid and impervious to leaks and spills, but they are actually full of tiny porous holes. These holes might not be visible to the naked eye, but they can be homes for millions of bacteria.  Did you know that nightly soaking can kill 99% of this bacteria?  This level of cleaning can’t be fulfilled with a traditional toothbrush and toothpaste.  Soaking your dentures can also give your gums a much needed rest after supporting your dentures all day.  Taking proper care of your dentures can allow you to keep your smile looking great as long as you need it. When not worn, your dentures should always be kept moist, and never soaked in hot water.
2. You Need to be Gentle on Your Gums.
   1. After deciding that you need to be fitted for dentures, you will need to wait for a few months for your gums to start to heal and fill in the spaces left by your missing teeth. While you’re waiting for your gums to heal, you won’t be able to be fit for your dentures, and will be on a soft food diet. If you start to have gum irritation after your mouth has healed and your dentist has fit you for dentures, you should visit your dentist to see if there is a problem with your dentures’ fit. Rinsing your mouth with salt water can help keep your gums clean and kill lingering germs. Keep your gums clean, well-rested, and maybe even give them an occasional massage.
3. You Might Have Some Extra Saliva.
   1. Creating too much saliva is a typical problem when you first start using dentures. Your body’s natural response when you put food in your mouth is to start producing extra saliva. When you first put your dentures in, your body will treat dentures like they are food. Within the first week, your body will become used to your dentures and your saliva production will go back to normal. Something that can help you manage the extra saliva can be sucking on hard candies or lozenges. By sucking on candy, you can unconsciously swallow more and remove the temporary increase in saliva.

Getting dentures can be a huge life adjustment, but living life with no pain and a bright smile makes them worth it. Dentures don’t have to be a negative change. As long as you go to a reputable dentist, your dentures can look and feel wonderful. When you’re considering investing in removable dentures, make an appointment with Indy Family Dental to make your dream smile come true.