Denture Dentists in Wyoming Dentist

When someone has lost their teeth after injury or tooth decay, it can be difficult feeling confident while wearing dentures. Living with dentures is a major adjustment that gets easier with time. In this blog post, we will give you our top 5 tips for first-time denture wearers so you can make an easier transition. Whether you are interested in full or partial dentures, we recommend you speak with a Wyoming dentist near you.

What to Expect When You Start Wearing Dentures

It’s normal to have more saliva than usual when you first start wearing dentures. This is because your new dentures will feel foreign to your body at first. Over time, your salivary glands will calm down and you won’t produce as much saliva. In the meantime, try eating some mints or swallow more often.

Within the first few hours of wearing your new dentures, you may develop some mouth sores. This is a relatively common problem that goes away once the muscles in your mouth get used to holding your new dentures in place. Using a great denture adhesive will also prevent your dentures from slipping.

If you continue having problems with your dentures, don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with our office. If you had teeth extracted, your gums will contract as they heal and affect the fit of your dentures. Our dentist will make sure your dentures are adjusted so they fit comfortably.

1.) Don’t Let Your Dentures Dry Out

Your natural teeth are never dry because they are constantly bathed by the saliva in your mouth. Likewise, your dentures should always be submerged in water or a denture cleanser soaking solution when not in your mouth. Dentures that have been allowed to dry out will warp and crack. Since dentures are an investment in your smile and oral health, it’s important to make sure your dentures always remain wet.

2.) Brush Your Dentures

Just like you brush your natural teeth, you will need to brush your dentures. Over time, plaque and odor-causing bacteria can build up on your dentures and give you bad breath. Food particles can also linger and create stains on your new dental restoration. Brushing your dentures daily will help ensure you have a beautiful happy smile for years to come. Our dentures dentist will be more than happy to teach you how to brush your new appliance.

3.) Brush Your Gums and Tongue

Did you know that your gums are just as important as your natural teeth for maintaining good oral health? Bacteria left to fester in the mouth can cause gum disease if you don’t brush on a daily basis. Among adults, gingivitis is especially common. It only makes sense that you would want the gums that your dental dentures sit on to be as healthy as possible. The soft toothbrush bristles also help stimulate your gums.

4.) Read Out Loud to Help Pronunciation

Don’t be discouraged if you have difficulty saying certain words. This is perfectly normal for people who have just started wearing dentures. Your lips, cheeks, and tongue will have to adjust to speaking with new dentures. Rest assured, you won’t always speak with a lisp. In the meantime, we recommend reading out loud from one of your favorite books to practice pronunciation. The more you practice speaking with your new dentures, the sooner you’ll notice your lisp disappear.

5.) Know How to Correct Slipping Dentures

Most of the time, your dentures should be a perfect fit to your mouth so that you can feel confident while eating and talking. However, abrupt movements can cause your dentures to slip slightly. Denture slippage is usually caused by sneezing, coughing, laughing, or even smiling.

When you feel your dentures slipping, we recommend gently biting down and swallowing. This will help adjust your dentures so that they slide back into optimal alignment. If you experience frequent problems with how your false teeth fit, you may need to schedule an appointment for denture repair.

Dr. Jeff Helmus is accepting new patients! To request an appointment with our dentures dentist in Wyoming, MI, call River Ridge Dentistry at (616) 538-7320.