404-633-1853You may have been living without some or all of your teeth for so long that you have learned how to eat speak, and even smile while compensating for your missing teeth. It may be that you are scheduled to have teeth removed. In either case, if you are getting dentures you should expect a period of adjustment. Even if you are replacing some or all of your teeth, dentures are a different sensation.
Your new dentures may feel bulky in your mouth, and your body may manufacture excess saliva for a while. That is normal, and will stop over time. You may need some practice putting your dentures in and taking them out, and there may be certain things that you do that can cause them to move, or ‘float’.” Learning to eat with your dentures in may take some time. You may have to cut your food into smaller pieces, or into long strips and chew it on both sides of your mouth. You may find that until you are comfortable wearing your dentures, you may have some difficulty pronouncing certain words. You can try speaking them slowly for a while, or you might practice pronouncing them.
It is true that your dentures are not your natural teeth. However, that doesn’t mean that you don’t need to take care of them. Food debris and bacteria will accumulate on your dentures during the day. You will need to use a denture brush or a soft toothbrush to gently scrub your dentures once a day. Use hand soap, dish soap or a toothpaste formulated for dentures to clean them. Regular toothpaste contains abrasives that can damage your dentures. To maintain their shape, your dentures need to be kept moist. Because you should remove your dentures for at least four hours a day, and should not sleep in them, place them in a denture soaking solution while you sleep. Not only will this keep them moist, but will also help to clean them.
If you are thinking about getting dentures to replace your missing teeth, our dentist, Dr. Omar Damji will be happy to see you for an examination. If you live in the Atlanta, Georgia, area and would like to make an appointment at Executive Park Dentistry, call 404-633-1853 today.