Acclimating to your dentures is not an overnight process. You’re going to need to give yourself enough time to adjust and feel comfortable wearing them. You might experience some irritation and soreness, some interference with talking and eating, and you may even taste certain foods differently than before. All of these are normal symptoms that come with your mouth adapting to these foreign objects inside of it.
But while you are learning to adapt to your routines with these replacement teeth, you will need to pick up new habits particularly where dental hygiene is concerned. That means treating them as you would your natural teeth by committing to consistent brushing and soaking of your denture appliances and keeping a sharp focus on the health of your gums and mouth to prevent bacteria from causing infection. You must also be diligent about avoiding sores and redness in the mouth.
Denture Risks
Plaque and bacteria are two of the biggest potential threats to your gums as a result of wearing dentures. As long as you commit to practicing good dental hygiene you can minimize these risks. Gum diseases such as periodontitis and gingivitis are some of the possible health problems that might develop, causing your gums to bleed and possibly swell up. You could also develop stomatitis, a fungal infection of the mouth that is common with poorly cleaned dentures.
Caring for the Mouth and Dentures
In order to avoid developing these denture risks, many dentists recommend that denture wearers follow these simple suggestions to maintain the health of their mouth and gums
Remove Your Dentures
It’s important that you take them out each evening before you go to bed. This gives your mouth an opportunity to rest and clean the dentures and the inside of the mouth thoroughly. Be sure to soak your dentures overnight while you sleep as you should never leave them in your mouth for more than 24 hours.
Cleaning the Mouth
When you take out the appliances, be sure to brush your tongue, the inside of your cheeks, the roof of the mouth, and the gums with a soft brush. Doing so will clean away plaque and bacteria and stimulate blood circulation in the gumline. Rinse with warm salt water to clean the gums of excess food particles and other debris.
No Smoking
Smoking can increase the risk of yeast developing in your mouth when you wear dentures and this can raise the risk of getting an infection and contracting gum disease.
