Receiving a set of cosmetic dentures can be a real life saver — and that’s not an exaggeration in the slightest, because good dental health is directly related to the overall health of your body. But what you may not have realized is that when you get your set of dentures or partials, that’s just the first step on the path to better oral health. Learning how to take care of dentures properly, and knowing when they need to be repaired or replaced, is the rest of the story.
Replacing Dentures
Cosmetic dentures today are usually custom-fitted by a specialized expert at a denture clinic, but it’s normal for dentures to start feeling uncomfortable or to stop fitting as properly as they initially did, because as your body grows and changes, so do your gums and your jaw. The Canadian Dental Association even suggests that dentures be replaced about every five years, although this doesn’t necessarily mean that your entire set of teeth will have to be replaced. Many denturists are able to make slight adjustments, such as replacing denture liners and replacing the base of the teeth, so that you’re able to continue wearing the same set as before.
Problems With Old Dentures
The major problem with ill-fitting cosmetic dentures is simply that they aren’t fitted closely to your mouth like they should be, and will not only be uncomfortable, but could actually cause your overall oral health to decline. It’s common for patients with loose dentures to find that they have trouble eating certain foods, they get nervous in social situations (for fear that their dentures might slip out while talking), and they can feel pain throughout the mouth, gums, neck, and forehead. If food and bacteria manages to get in between your dentures and gums, it can lead to gum disease, infection, and even more pain.
More than anything else, remember that your teeth are extremely valuable to your body’s health, and you deserve to be comfortable, healthy, and happy with whatever type of dentures you receive.
Why Dentures Need To Be Replaced More Often Than You Realize