Removable dentures: What you should know

If you have lost all your natural teeth due to gum disease, cavities, or trauma, you can replace them with a removable denture. It will significantly improve your health and your appearance. A removable denture will make eating and communicating easier for you.

Advantages of removable dentures

When you are missing various teeth, your facial muscles may droop, making you look older. A removable denture may help make up for the lost bone, supporting your facial muscles and improving your appearance. Removable dentures look like natural teeth. So, your overall appearance will not change much. They can greatly improve your smile.

Types of removable dentures

Here are some common types of removable dentures:

Common problems when using removable dentures

When you first start using a removable denture, you may experience discomfort during the first few weeks until you get used to it.

After some time, your removable denture may become loose as the muscles in your cheeks and tongue struggle to hold it steady. Therefore, the membranes on your lips, cheeks, and tongue may be mildly irritated or they may ache. This is a common problem. Also, you may notice an increase in saliva production.

However, as your mouth gets used to your removable denture, these problems will go away.

How to take care of your denture?

• You should stick to your follow-up schedule and get dental exams regularly so your dentist can keep an eye on you and adjust your denture accordingly. If there’s any issue such as irritation or pain, it’s best to visit your dentist right away.
• When wearing a removable denture, you will need to practice good oral hygiene. Brush your gums, tongue, and palate every morning before putting the denture on to encourage blood circulation within the tissues and remove plaque.
• Just like real teeth, a removable denture should be brushed daily to get rid of food particles and plaque. It’s recommended to wash your denture before brushing to remove pieces of food first.
• You should use a soft toothbrush and a mild cleanser to gently brush the surfaces of your denture so as not to damage it.
• When brushing, don’t forget to rinse your mouth thoroughly, including the gums, lips, cheeks, palates, and tongue, to remove all plaque. This reduces your risk of oral irritation and bad breath.
• When not in use, a removable denture should be placed in a glass of water and kept in a safe place to avoid deformation.
• Sometimes, users of removable dentures may need to use adhesives. They can be in the form of a cream, powder, or solution. If you intend to use one of those, read the instruction carefully, and use it exactly as instructed. Your dentist may advise you to use suitable cleanser and adhesive.

Therefore, it’s best to consult with your dentist first. If you have any questions about removable dentures, feel free to contact the dentists at The East Rose Dental Clinic (Old Rose Dental Clinic) for further information.