THORPE
Dental Group
DENTURE WEAR & CARE
v Initial Soreness: Some discomfort for first time wear is almost unavoidable, be assured this will pass with time & continued wear.
v Control: Dentures rely on suction and help from your facial muscles & tongue. These keep dentures in place especially when you are eating & talking. You will develop these skills in the following weeks.
v Limitations: Dentures will never fully replace natural teeth, for example some foods especially if sticky or chewy will always be a problem.
v Appearance: Do not be afraid if friends & family notice ‘something different’. Dentures not only take adjustment by you but for the others around you too.
v Wear: Dentures can be worn 24 hours for the first two weeks only (this allows your mouth to become used to them). After this it is strongly advised that you remove dentures whilst you sleep to allow the gums/roof of your mouth to relax & breathe.
v Eating: Try to choose a soft diet & practice chewing evenly over the back teeth using both sides together. As you get used to controlling your dentures you can begin to get a little more adventurous with the foods you choose.
v Speech: Lisping and making an excess of saliva is a normal response & will gradually fade away over the coming weeks.
v Cleaning: Using a toothbrush and ordinary soap (not toothpaste as it is too abrasive) clean the teeth and also the underside of your denture where it sits against your gums. Dentures will break if they fall onto hard surfaces so always clean them over a sink half filled with water.
Whilst dentures are not being worn at night, patients with acrylic (plastic) dentures should soak them in ‘Dentural’ or ‘Milton’-please follow printed instructions on the label. (Dentural & Milton are not suitable for dentures containing metal or with a soft lining-please ask your dentist if unsure).
v Problems: If your dentures are causing a lot of discomfort remove them & make an appointment to come back to us for a check. Please make sure you put them in for 4-5 hours before your appointment to help us pinpoint the offending area.
v If in any doubt about the above points or you would like additional information please contact the surgery.