After tooth loss, your dentist may recommend dentures to restore your smile and chewing ability. Unfortunately, false notions have become a part of this dental solution over time.
Here are common misconceptions about dentures and the real truth behind them.
You Don't Have to Clean Your Dentures
You need to maintain your dentures just like you would with regular teeth. Thankfully, dentures are pretty easy to clean and maintain. But since food particles could find their way underneath your dentures, you need to clean them regularly.
You can brush dentures with toothpaste or a special denture cleaning paste from your dentist. If your dentures have metal clasps, use water and a denture cleaner to ensure you don't miss a spot.
Keep in mind that dentures need to remain
moist to retain their shape. You could soak them in a denture cleaning solution to remove stains and ensure flexibility. You could also place your dentures in a glass of water overnight to maintain their original shape.
If you fail to clean your dentures properly, bacteria could thrive on the surface and cause an infection when you place the dentures in your mouth. Worse still, the bacteria could trigger dental issues like
denture stomatitis (inflammation and sores inside your mouth).
Your Dentures Can Fall Out
Your dentures shouldn't fall out if they fit correctly in your mouth. Your dentist can custom-fit your dentures to ensure they stay in place. They also make sure that your new dentures don't irritate the gums or cause sores.
However, dentures can come loose over time due to changes in your mouth. For instance, your roots may no longer stimulate bone development in your jaw after tooth loss. Your jawbone might start to shrink and recede. Worse still, your jaw could lose density and change its shape. These changes in the jaw gradually affect the stability and position of your dentures.
To fix this problem, your dentist may recommend denture adhesives to hold your dentures in place and ensure a more natural fit. If that doesn't work, you might need to replace your dentures with properly sized ones.
Your Dentures Can Make Eating Difficult
Dentures use a comfortable design that allows you to chew properly with them in your mouth. In fact, your dentist will likely recommend a specific design based on your needs, preferences, and lifestyle.
For instance, if you want a dental device that stays in place for a long time, you could opt for fixed dentures. If you choose removable dentures, remember that they can pop out if you chew very hard foods. But your dentist can use adhesives to custom-fit removable dentures to make them more secure and comfortable to wear.
Your Dentures Easily Stand Out
Actually, good dentures should blend in naturally with your other teeth. This way, these dental devices ensure a more natural dentition and outward appearance.
Advanced denture materials like silicone or zirconia allow dentists to replicate your teeth' color, shape, and shade. You can even get dentures that mimic the translucency of your teeth. As a result, your new dentures will appear more natural and attractive.
For acrylic dentures, your dentist can choose a suitable color that matches the shade of the gums and your skin tone. They can also use tooth-like shading or textures to make dentures look more realistic and natural.
Your dentist can employ other denture enhancement procedures to improve your outward appearance. They can bleach and polish your new dentures to make them blend in with the rest of your teeth. Your dentist can also add tooth-like shading, stains, and markings to mimic the appearance of actual teeth.
Dentures can serve you for a long time with proper care practices. If you have any questions about dentures, feel free to contact
Professional Dental Center today!
