Here are few of the facts about dentures. Please contact myself or talk to a member of staff if you have any other queries.
Older dentures can develop weak areas that may result in fractures of the denture base or denture teeth.
Dentures should usually fit comfortably without the need for adhesives to maintain a secure fit.
As a person ages the mouth gets smaller. It's a normal process that ultimately results in loose dentures. In many cases the dentures do not need replacing but simply relining.
The use of a chemist type adhesive is a sign that your mouth has got smaller.
You want your dentures to last – and by taking good care of them you can maintain optimum hygiene and avoid stains, odours, plaque and tartar (hardened plaque, also known as calculus). Here are a few tips for keeping them in good condition!
Keeping your dentures clean
Brush your dentures using a soft denture brush each day, ideally after each meal. It's best to clean them over a basin of water or a folded towel – this way you should reduce the risk of damage if you accidentally drop them. You should hold each denture between your thumb, index and middle fingers because there is a risk of dentures being squeezed or broken if held in the palm of your hand.
One might think it would be fine to use normal tooth paste, but in fact toothpaste can scratch the dentures. A better solution is to use hand soap, liquid soap or special denture cream as these are not abrasive. Rinse your denture well afterwards.
Denture cleaning tablets are also available although these should not be used with Chrome Cobalt dentures or Soft linings.
Do not attempt to sterilise your dentures with bleach or boiling water. Bleach is harmful and will damage the appearance of your dentures and make them brittle, whilst boiling water could cause them to warp.
Care at night
We recommend that dentures are removed overnight and kept in a container of water (a glass or a denture box). This allows your mouth to rest. Dentures should be kept moist because otherwise they will dry out and ultimately fracture.
However some people do prefer to wear their denture when they are asleep, as otherwise they experience jaw discomfort.
Fact sheet for new denture wearers
Some time will have been spent at the fitting stage making sure that there are no painful spots. But there are some muscles around the denture which only contract strongly when you actually use them in chewing and swallowing. These may press against the denture border causing soreness after a meal. It may ease with time but the solution may be to trim the denture back at these points.
These are places on the gum where the skin in the mouth is very thin and the bone underneath quite sharp. These areas can be quite painful and will need adjusting.
You may be able to carry on using the dentures before you can come back to us for a review, by taking them out as much as possible in between meals and certainly at night. Wearing the old dentures for a day or so also gives the sore spots a chance to recover.
If you have recently had teeth extracted and just had a new denture fitted, it is important that you know that this denture could need to be relined or refitted in just a few weeks.
Start eating with food that is to manage like fish pie, shepherds pie or quiche. Rolls, pizza and steak can come later. You wouldn't buy a new pair of shoes and go for a ten mile hike! Some foods like cheese can be surprisingly sticky. Many people prefer to have their first few meals in the privacy of their home before eating in public.
Dentures should not cause continual irritation or soreness.
Dentures can hide evidence of oral pathology. An annual examination of the oral tissues by your Dentist or clinical Dental Technician is highly recommended. Even if you have no teeth.
Soft linings on dentures will need replacing regularly.
