Every year, thousands of patients choose dentures to restore their smiles. This prosthetic doesn’t just give them a smile that looks whole—it also gives patients the ability to chew their favorite foods and even speak where others can hear them better. These are truly some of the most life-changing impacts that dentistry has to offer! However, it’s also important to maintain realistic expectations of your new replacement teeth, from caring for them to determining whether or not you need denture adhesive. Read on to learn what to expect from using dentures and how denture adhesive can help improve their performance.
What Should Your Dentures Feel Like?
When you first get your dentures, you can expect it to take about a month to adjust to how they fit and feel. During this time, your facial muscles will get stronger, improving the ease in which you speak and chew with your dentures. You’ll also be learning how to pronounce certain sounds and speak without your dentures slipping or shifting in your mouth during this time. Remember, don’t get frustrated and stick with it!
When Should You Use Denture Adhesive?
Denture adhesive can help patients in a variety of situations and settings, as it adheres the prosthetic to the gumline to reduce instances of slipping or shifting. Some of the ways that denture adhesive can help you include:
- Boost your confidence while doing basic daily tasks by increasing the hold of your dentures to your gumline.
- Improve your bite and sense of comfort.
- For those with dry mouth due to medication side-effects, adhesive can help with suction when there isn’t enough saliva in the mouth.
- Avoid putting strain on the face and improve the strength of your dentures, especially while speaking.
If you’re not sure whether denture adhesive is right for you, a great way to find out is by speaking with your dentist in Moses Lake. They can help answer any questions you may have and help you explore all of your adhesive options.
What’s the Best Way to Maintain Your Dentures?
Whenever you’re using denture adhesive, maintenance of your prosthetic is crucial to the success of your adhesive as well as your oral health. By removing plaque build-up and staining, you can not only avoid the uncomfortable effects of poor oral health and denture use, but also increase the lifespan of your prosthetic. Here are some helpful maintenance tips for denture-wearers:
- Never bleach or use whitening products on your dentures.
- Gently brush your gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth every day before putting your dentures in.
- Rinse your mouth with water to remove food debris after eating.
- Brush your dentures once a day using either a soft-bristled or denture-cleaning toothbrush and non-abrasive denture cleaner.
- Take your dentures out at night and store them in a glass of room temperature water or denture cleansing solution.
- Schedule regular appointments with your dentist.
When you invest in dentures, you’re investing in your quality of life. Having to use denture adhesive isn’t a sign of failure or that your dentures don’t fit right (although that can also be the case!). There are a number of reasons why your dentures may need a little more reliable of a hold, and adhesive can do just that.
About the Author
Dr. Craig Harder has been serving patients in Moses Lake and surrounding areas for over 20 years. He offers a wide range of treatments to address tooth loss in patients of all ages, including traditional, tried-and-true dentures as well as advanced implant dentures. To learn more about how he can restore your smile, visit Moses Lake Family Dentistry’s website or call 509-764-4351.