Many people who lose their natural teeth turn to dentures as a reliable alternative. They come in many forms: immediate, fixed, partial, full, snap-in—there are plenty of options based on the need of the individual. Dentures are typically cheaper than dental implants. They can also sometimes be covered by insurance, making them a popular option to restore diminished eating and speaking capacities and improve the user’s overall quality of life. But dentures do come with strings attached. They require maintenance, delicacy in handling, and a certain amount of willingness to adopt perhaps a slightly different diet or food habits than you may have been used to before. Today, we want to remind you of some of those basics of denture care that are easy to forget. 

Handle with Care

When handling your dentures, always make sure to use the utmost care. Dentures are delicate! Never use boiling water to clean them, as that could warp their shape. Steer away from chemicals too harsh for them, such as bleach. It’s good to brush your dentures, but it may be prudent to fold up a towel and place it on the counter underneath them when you do, just in case they accidentally drop. Dentures are expensive, and nobody wants to have to replace them before they were expecting to! Remember that dentures are delicate.

Be Mindful of What You Eat and Drink

Nutrition with dentures doesn’t have to mean saying goodbye to everything you enjoy. It just means adjusting your mindset, and being willing to take a little more care when it comes to your meals than you might have before.

Dentures-Friendly Choices

As Daily Odontology points out, there are lots of dentures-friendly options out there. Eggs and legumes are excellent sources of dentures-friendly protein. You may enjoy a bowl of oatmeal or cream of wheat for a breakfast, soup for lunch, and some seafood or a pasta dish for dinner. Smoothies and puddings are obvious options because they don’t require any chewing at all.

Not-So-Dentures-Friendly Choices

            This likely won’t be surprising, but you’ll want to stay away from corn on the cob: the force required to bite into it can easily dislodge your dentures. Caramels, taffies, and other sticky foods can do the same thing. Chips, nuts, and popcorn will likely be uncomfortable because small bits will get stuck underneath your dentures. Biting into apples whole is another no-go, as that could dislodge the dentures, too.

Strategizing for Success

While smoothies and puddings are obvious choices, eventually, you’re going to need something with a bit more sustenance. You won’t want to eat only smoothies and scrambled eggs for the rest of your life. If you’re eating something like meat, which can be difficult to chew without dislodging your dentures, try cutting or shredding it into smaller pieces first. The more work you do with a fork and knife, the less has to be done with your dentures. The same goes for foods like apples: cut them up first, and then you can enjoy the foods you’ve always loved while still being friendly to your dentures! Other strategies to implement include chewing evenly, never rushing, and keeping your glass of water handy to prevent dry mouth. Though it may take some getting used to, eventually, you can find a balance that’s friendly to your dentures and your taste buds.

Don’t Neglect Oral Health

It’s tempting to adopt a mentality that would say that because you have dentures, now, you no longer need to worry about going to the dentist. This is entirely untrue. Dentists are there primarily for your oral health, and you still have oral health to take care of after making the switch to dentures! Two key components of oral health that dentists attend to at those visits are:

Prevention

Even those without natural teeth are still susceptible to many forms of oral disease. As the Cleveland Clinic reports, “Oral cancer is a common cancer of the head and neck, affecting people all around the world. Nearly 54,000 Americans receive an oral or oropharyngeal cancer diagnosis each year.” Oral cancer doesn’t have to be deadly, but it can be if it’s detected too late. The Clinic reports: “Oral cancer screenings are the best tool available for early diagnosis and treatment.”

While dentists don’t actually cure cancer (yet), they do typically perform oral cancer screenings as part of a normal checkup and will refer you to an oncologist if they notice anything suspicious. Oral cancer is just one example of the diseases that can be spotted and addressed early on through routine dental checkups. If you neglect to visit the dentist regularly, you forgo the prevention and protection they offer against legitimately threatening disease.

Hygiene

The grim news is that plaque sticks to dentures just like it sticks to natural teeth. When plaque builds up, it becomes tartar. No one wants to develop tartar. Only a dentist can remove that. At your regular checkups, the dentist can provide your dentures with a professional cleaning, just like they would natural teeth, to scrub away any plaque or tartar that might have accumulated.

Teeth that share space with dentures are at increased risk of decay. If you have some natural teeth left and only wear partial dentures, this cleaning is even more vital! A regular visit allows the dentist to professionally clean any teeth you have, false or otherwise. This is a crucial part of oral health.

Visit the Dentist Before Something Breaks!

Good dentures are designed to last. Likely, unless you drop them while cleaning, they’ll last you 5 to 10 years. However, another possible cause of dentures breaking is when they don’t fit you correctly. The jaw changes over time due to bone resorption. One day, your dentures will start to feel uncomfortable because they aren’t fitting quite right—a signal that they probably need to be relined. If pressure is exerted where the dentures weren’t meant to bear that pressure, you have on your hands a recipe for broken equipment.

The solution for this is known as relining. Visiting your dentist for relinings is a crucial part of maintaining the fit and function of your dentures, not to mention keeping you comfortable! There are two main methods for a reline: hard and soft. A hard reline can last up to five years, with good maintenance. Soft relines need to be replaced every year. By getting your dentures adjusted, they’ll be more comfortable and less likely to break on you. So schedule your appointment as soon as that discomfort signals for it!

Dentures certainly do take upkeep. However, in the long run, they can be a reliable alternative to natural teeth for those who need them. By seeing your dentist regularly and following these tips, you will be on the path to denture care success. If you need to schedule your next appointment, please contact our office today.