Nothing can ever replace your smile, but dentures can help. Dentures are custom-made replacements for missing teeth and can be taken out and put back into your mouth. Complete dentures are used to replace all the teeth, while partial dentures are used alongside some remaining natural teeth. Brady Dental of Amarillo provides both. While dentures take some getting used to, and will never feel exactly the same as your natural teeth, today’s dentures made for you are natural looking and more comfortable than ever. If you have lost all of your natural teeth, whether from gum disease, tooth decay, or injury, dentures will help by replacing missing teeth and improving your appearance and your health.
Speaking and eating are two important factors that people often take for granted. Dentures can aid in making your life easier and even improve your smile and make you look years younger.
There are several types of dentures. The conventional complete denture is full removable dentures made and placed in your mouth after your remaining teeth are removed and tissues have healed. This may take several months. If you cannot be without teeth for several months, the immediate removable denture is made. The removable denture is inserted on the same day that the remaining teeth are removed. The immediate removable denture may need to be relined or remade after your jaw has healed. Sometimes some of your teeth can be saved to preserve your jawbone and provide stability and support for the denture. An overdenture, another type of denture, fits over a small number of remaining natural teeth after being prepared. Implants can serve the same function, too.
Adjusting to dentures takes some getting used to. You almost have to relearn how to do basic things like eat and laugh. Of course, it is well worth the work. At Brady Dental we are happy to see you at no charge for denture adjustments for your first year. It might take some time, as your mouth adjusts and Brady Dental of Amarillo is always there to help. Minor irritation or soreness is common for the first few weeks. Your dentures might feel loose and slip while the muscles in your mouth and lips learn to keep them in place. Increased saliva flow is common, too. All these problems should diminish as you get used to your dentures. Brady Dental of Amarillo can assist you with all these denture issues.
Eating with dentures takes time and practice. It can take three to four weeks to manage solid food after being fitted for dentures. Get started with soft foods-mashed potatoes, yogurt, bananas or scrambled eggs-so your gums and jaw muscles can get used to the motion of eating with your new “teeth”. As chewing gets easier, start transitioning into more solid foods-pasta, rice, cooked vegetables or soft meat. Be careful when experimenting with hard foods like fruits and vegetables. Be sure to chew on both sides of your mouth to help keep your dentures from slipping or falling out. Avoid hot foods, too, because you might not be able to sense temperature as easily. Stay away from hard or chewy foods-nest, popcorn, apples, carrot sticks, corn on the cob-to make sure your dentures stay stable and comfortable. Foods that require many bites to tenderize them place unnecessary stress on dentures and gums. Chew slowly and thoroughly before you swallow to prevent choking. This will also keep your dentures from falling out while eating.
Talking with dentures takes practice. Don’t hold back. Explore helpful tips from Brady Dental of Amarillo to practice speaking confidently and clearly with dentures. It takes time to talk normally with confidence. This varies from person to person. Dentures may affect your speech, but the effect may be an improvement. Reading out loud and repeating difficult words will help. A good tip to remember when getting used to your new dentures is to gently bite down and swallow before you speak and to speak at a normal volume. Also, denture adhesive can help. If you notice your dentures making a clicking sound, speak more slowly. Do not panic if you feel your new dentures slip when you laugh or cough. Slowing down and taking a swallow will restore your dentures to the correct position. With a little patience, adapting to dentures does not have to be difficult and you will be able to eat, talk, laugh, smile and even kiss confidently.
Like your natural teeth, dentures need good dental hygiene. Brush your gums, tongue and roof of your mouth every morning with a soft-bristled brush before you insert your dentures to stimulate circulation in your tissues and help remove plaque. This will help keep you healthy, reduce the risk of oral irritation and bad breath. When you are not wearing your dentures, put them in a safe place covered in water or in water with a denture cleanser soaking solution to keep them from warping. Never use hot water. Rinsing and brushing with a soft bristle toothbrush and non-abrasive cleanser will remove food or debris and dental plaque and help prevent your dentures from becoming stained. Occasionally, adhesives are needed and come in many forms: creams, powders, pads/wafers, strips or liquids. Brady Dental of Amarillo can recommend which is appropriate for you. Be sure to see your dentist if dentures break, chip, crack or become loose. Let the professionals at Brady Dental of Amarillo do the job to prevent any damage to your dentures.
Scheduling regular dental checkups at Brady Dental of Amarillo will keep your dentures in working condition and will keep you smiling for years to come.
