Care of Full Dentures

A full denture is a removable prosthesis made when all your natural teeth are missing either on the upper jaw, lower jaw or both. A full denture is supported by the surrounding soft and hard tissues of the mouth. Full dentures are made of an acrylic material.

Below are some helpful suggestions to make sure you look after your full dentures in the best way possible.

Insertion As Well as Removal

Your Dentist will demonstrate how to insert and take out your new dentures. Make sure you understand properly before leaving the surgery. At home using a mirror can help to guide you with inserting and removing your new dentures. Your dentures will only fit in one way. You do not need to use force.

Function

Whether you have used dentures before, your mouth will need time to adapt to your new dentures even They may feel different and uncomfortable in the beginning, but just like a new pair of shoes they need time to “wear themselves in”.

Your speech may be altered in the beginning but it will return to normal once you are used to wearing the new dentures. Certain words may initially be more difficult to pronounce than others, such as words starting with “s” “f” and “c”.

Eating may initially be difficult as well. Start with eating soft foods (eg. steamed vegetables), taking small bites and chewing slowly. Chew on both sides of the mouth and bite down at the corners rather than on the front teeth. This will balance the denture while eating and means your denture is less likely to move around.

Overnight Care

Remove the dentures before going to bed. This allows your mouth to rest and gives gum tissues time to breath. Clean the dentures really well and place it back in their box or in a cup of water. Removing your dentures at night may also prevent you from unconsciously grinding your teeth at night and therefore wearing out your dentures.

Your Oral Hygiene

Oral hygiene is extremely important as just like natural teeth, plaque, stain and calculus can build up on your denture and bacterial or fungal infections occur on the surrounding tissues. Brushing and rinsing your denture, gums and tongue will help prevent build up and infection.

Pain/Adjustments

At times the gum tissue under your dentures may become painful or uncomfortable. Schedule an appointment to see your dentist for a denture adjustment. You may remove your dentures if the pain is unbearable but it is extremely important to wear your denture for one day before your dental appointment as this will help the dentist see the areas where adjustments are needed.

Maintenance

Your dentures should be cleaned after every meal to ensure they are free from bacteria and plaque. When cleaning your denture use a soft brush or toothbrush and hold it over a towel or basin of water to cushion the fall in case you drop it.

Brush the inside as well as the outside surfaces of the denture with either a toothpaste or warm soapy water. If tartar build up is noticed and is not being successfully removed, make an appointment with your dentist to have your dentures professionally cleaned.

Avoid using hot water, kitchen detergents, abrasives, laundry bleaches, methylated spirits and antiseptics. Even after wearing your dentures for months or years they may need to be adjusted. They may need relining (new fitting surface) as your mouth continues to change with time.

Dentures are delicate and can break so it is important to take good care of them. If you damage or break your denture, stop using it immediately and schedule an appointment with your dentist. Do not tamper with or glue pieces back together as it may result in permanent damage to your denture.