Millions of people around the world visit dentists and get fitted for dentures each year. These dental appliances look like real teeth and have a design that lets you easily secure one inside your mouth and remove it later. You can get a full set that consists of both an upper and lower denture plate, or you can get just one upper or lower plate based on the condition and health of your teeth. If you do not properly care for your dentures and follow the instructions given to you by a dentist, you can develop a number of different problems.
1- Tissue Infection
When you get a new set of dentures, you may run out and try to eat all those foods your teeth couldn’t handle. While you can eat more foods with those dentures, you shouldn’t care for the dentures the same way you did your old teeth. Using the wrong type of brush or paste can damage the dentures. Not cleaning those dentures properly can also lead to a tissue infection that sets in underneath your teeth.
2- Increase in Mouth Bacteria
An increase in the amount of bacteria found in your mouth is another problem associated with wearing dentures. This bacteria can build up because you eat the wrong foods and do not properly clean your dentures or let the plate(s) soak overnight. This bacteria can spread through your bloodstream and cause health problems in other parts of your body.
3- Worn Down Enamel
Not properly taking care of your dentures can also cause the enamel or porcelain made to resemble your teeth wear down over time. This often occurs among patients who use toothpaste and brushes to clean their dentures. Those products can damage and even eat through the dentures. All you need is a good soaking product that you soak your dentures in at night and adhesive that you use when securing the dentures in your mouth.
4- Tooth Pain
One of the best benefits of getting a whole set of dentures is that you no longer need to worry about impacted teeth, damaged teeth or those with cavities that cause you a significant amount of pain. If you opt for just a top or bottom plate though, you risk developing tooth pain. As the denture plate rubs against your mouth, it can irritate your tooth and even crack a tooth, which will cause some pain.
5- Gum and Mouth Irritation
The more you take care of your dentures, the less gum and mouth irritation you will experience. A good set of dentures designed specifically for your mouth will fit tightly without slipping or sliding. You need to keep in mind that your jaw and mouth will change as you get older, which can change the way those dentures fit. Seeing your dentist can help you avoid irritations caused by your dentures.
6- Bone Density Loss
Another problem that can occur over time is a loss of bone density. Dentists will often recommend that patients with dentures come back for regular checkups at least once or twice a year. The dentist will make sure the dentures fit properly in your mouth and that the plates do not wear down your jaw bone or fit too tightly against that bone.
7- Dietary Limits
Wearing a single denture or a complete set may require that you make some changes to your diet. Those who wear dentures often have a hard time with hard foods and foods that are difficult to eat like corn on the cob. You may experience issues when eating soup and softer foods too because those foods slip out of your dentures. Chewing problems can worsen when you do not take care of your set.
8- Mouth Sores
As someone with dentures or about to get dentures, you also need to be aware of the mouth sores that can develop. These sores are a type of irritation that occurs when the dentures do not fit properly. As the dentures rub against your mouth, you can develop sores on your gums and both inside and outside of your mouth.
Make sure that you know about common problems and that you talk with the dentists about any concerns you have before getting dentures.
