When dentures fit well and are properly cleaned and cared for, they can be almost as comfortable and attractive as natural teeth. But when they begin to get loose, all sorts of physical and aesthetic problems can arise. Loose dentures affect a large percentage of all denture wearers, and it is an annoying problem. Knowing why dentures begin to slip, and what to do about it, is a must-read for every denture wearer.
How do I know my dentures are loose?
You may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
- Pain or discomfort
- Difficulty opening your mouth wide
- Food gets stuck between your teeth
- Difficulty chewing
- Slurred speech or other speaking difficulties
Causes of loose dentures:
- Warped dentures due to immersion in hot water, or drying out
- Shifting positions of any remaining natural teeth
- Loss of jawbone when there are not teeth roots to stimulate the bone, and it deteriorates slowly over time
- Decreased saliva flow due to health conditions or medication
Possible solutions:
1. Replacement – All dentures must be replaced every five to seven years. Perhaps your dentures are simply old.
2. Relining – If you are willing to be without your dentures for several days, they can be sent to a laboratory and relined after your dentist makes new measurements of your gums.
3. Adhesives – A temporary solution is to use an adhesive powder or paste to keep your dentures in place. The adhesive will prevent food from getting stuck between your gums and your dentures, but they can taste and feel unpleasant in your mouth. Adhesives are also sometimes messy to apply and difficult to clean off your gums and dentures.
4. Dental implants – You can choose to have permanent implants placed into your gums and you will enjoy the new false teeth for the rest of your life without the need for a replacement. However, implants require surgery and they can be very expensive. You can get implants for all of your teeth or only support implants upon which to place removable dentures for some of the other teeth. The advantage of dental implants is that they stimulate the
Do whatever you can afford to do to make sure your dentures are not loose so that your quality of life will not be affected for the worse. Trying to function with loose dentures can be more difficult than trying to function with no teeth at all. Learn more with a business like The Denture Studio.
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