New dentures can be what you need if you have a number of missing teeth or need to have your teeth pulled due to severe damage. Dentures can make your smile more attractive and help you to eat and speak better. Dentures also keep your gums and jawbone healthy by stimulating the tissue inside your mouth and protecting your gums from bacteria build-up. If it's been recommended that you get dentures, note a few questions you might have, and then discuss this option with your dentist as needed.
What are implants and why are they used with dentures?
Dental implants are like screws that get inserted into the jaw, and which then provide a more solid foundation for dentures. These can help keep the dentures in place more easily, and they help protect the gums from irritation due to dental pastes and adhesives, and from rubbing up against the dentures. Your dentist can tell you if you're a good candidate for implants and how they would affect your oral health.
Can a person sleep in their dentures?
You can actually sleep in full dentures or those held in place with a bridge, but you don't want to wear your dentures for 24 hours straight, as your gums and jaw line need time to relax every day from the pressure of dentures. It's also good to soak your dentures in a solution every day, as the solution will remove food particles and bacteria in areas where a brush can't reach.
If you want to wear your dentures at night, such as to avoid embarrassment when with another person, discuss this with your dentist. He or she may recommend that you remove the dentures for several hours at another time during the day so that they can soak in a solution and get thoroughly cleaned, and so your mouth can rest.
How much adjustment is needed to your diet when you get dentures?
Many people wonder if you can eat normally when they have dentures. Dentures are very strong and you can typically eat meat, crispy foods like chips, apples, and celery, but will usually need to avoid very hard foods such as toffee or ice chips. Sticky foods like taffy and caramels should also be avoided. Overly hot beverages may damage dentures, but drinks like coffee and tea that are comfortably hot are typically safe. Your dentist can tell you any limitations on your eating habits, but other than these few restrictions, you typically can enjoy the same diet after getting dentures as you did before.