You have lost a tooth or several of them and it’s time to get something in there to replace them. Dental implants, though they are long-lasting, are not in your budget, so you decide to go with the other choice – dentures. They are still very popular. You may have some questions about what you’re going to put in your mouth. We have some of those answers in this post.
Here are some of the more commonly asked questions about what it’s like to wear dentures.
How Long Does It Take To Get Used To Wearing Them?
First-time denture wearers are going to have a longer learning curve than someone who is getting a second or third set of dentures, but there is an adjustment period for everyone. This is something new in your mouth, after all. It may take several weeks for it to start feeling like something regular. Don’t go by what other people say, though – it’s different for each and every person.
One thing that can make a big difference is how fast you are healing under the dentures. Sometimes the process requires the extraction of other teeth. Make sure that the dentures are not cutting or chafing your gums, though. That can lead to possible infection and gum disease, which would put your teeth at even more risk and require more dental work. Always see your dentist if any discomfort crosses over into pain.
How Long Should I Wear Them?
Initially, your dentist may have you wear your dentures all the time to acclimate your mouth to the feeling of having them in there. You would still need to take them out to brush in order to prevent any food particles from getting stuck in them. Eventually, you would start wearing them all day and then take them out at night, giving your mouth a break from them.
Should I Use Denture Adhesive?
Denture adhesive can be great when it comes to peace of mind about keeping them firmly in your mouth. There are a couple of things that you need to keep an eye on though: First, your zinc intake, since the adhesive can have that in it and it’s possible to get too much of it in your system(follow the directions carefully), and Second, you need to budget more time when it comes to brushing the dentures, since the adhesive is sticky and can be hard to brush off.
Also, it depends on the quality of the dentures. Oftentimes, custom-made dentures, which have top-tier material, tend to fit more snugly and securely than the less expensive ones. But each situation is a unique one and what works for one person may not work for another. Fortunately, the adhesives are not terribly expensive, with a tube costing just a little more than what toothpaste would, so it would not strain most people’s budgets.
Do I Need To Have My Dentures Adjusted?
There will almost always be a point during the life of your dentures (up to 10 years) that you are going to need to have them adjusted. It may be because of something that happened to the denture, or it could be due to your jawline and gums changing over the course of time. That’s why you need to have regular appointments so that your dentist can examine how they are fitting and make any changes necessary – oftentimes they will have a dental lab that can fix the problem right then and there.
Can I Try To Fix Them Myself?
In short… no. Although there are “Denture repair kits” in pharmacies and online, those are meant to be short-term bandaids to allow you to wear the dentures until you can get into the dentist’s chair. Like if it happened during a holiday weekend, for example. If you try to do anything that will be a longtime fix, you are more than likely to make it exponentially worse. See a dentist as soon as possible.
Other things you should know is that you have to brush them daily with a special toothpaste and also soak them overnight in a special solution. Handle them carefully and do not put them in places where they can fall. Also, just because you have dentures now does not mean that you can stop going to the dentist. They have to monitor how the dentures are fitting and also check how the rest of your remaining teeth are doing, so continue with your twice-yearly visits.
Getting dentures may take some adjustments in how you speak and eat, but it is a far better option than having gaps in your mouth. The reason for that is that the remaining teeth would start shifting along your jaw and create biting and speaking issues, along with hollow cheeks due to nothing pushing back out against them. Your dentist can always help through the process – see them if there are any issues.
When it comes to dentures, the staff at Hagerstown Dentist have heard nearly every question out there – and they will gladly answer anyone who asks. They have offices in both Hagerstown (301-200-9585) – give them a call to make an appointment today!
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Hagerstown Dentist
Hagerstown Location
1303 Pennsylvania Ave.
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Phone: (301) 200-9585
