subject: Tips for your teeth (Dentures) [print this page] Tips for your teeth (Dentures) Tips for your teeth (Dentures)
Dentures (sometimes called false teeth) may feel strange at first. When you are learning to eat with them, it may be easier if you:
Start with soft non-sticky food
Cut your food into small pieces
Chew slowly using both sides of your mouth
Dentures may make your mouth less sensitive to hot foods and liquids. They also may make it harder for you to notice harmful objects such as bones, so be careful. During the first few weeks you have dentures, your dentist may want to see you often to make sure they fit. Over time, your mouth changes and your dentures may need to be replaced or adjusted. Be sure to let your dentist handle these adjustments.
Keep your dentures clean and free from food that can cause stains, bad breath, or swollen gums. Once a day, brush all surfaces with a denture care product. When you go to sleep, take your dentures out of your mouth and put them in water or a denture cleansing liquid.
Take care of partial dentures the same way. Because bacteria can collect under the clasps (clips) that hold partial dentures, be sure to carefully clean that area.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are small metal pieces placed in the jaw to hold false teeth or partial dentures in place. They are not for everyone. You need a complete dental and medical checkup to find out if implants are right for you. Your gums must be healthy and your jawbone able to support the implants. Talk to your dentist to find out if you should think about dental implants.
Dry Mouth
Doctors used to think that dry mouth (xerostomia) was a normal part of aging. They now know that's not true. Older, healthy adults shouldn't have a problem with saliva.
Dry mouth happens when salivary glands don't work properly. This can make it hard to eat, swallow, taste, and even speak. Dry mouth also can add to the risk of tooth decay and infection. You can get dry mouth from many diseases or medical treatments, such as head and neck radiation therapy. Many common medicines also can cause dry mouth.
If you think you have dry mouth, talk with your dentist or doctor to find out why. If your dry mouth is caused by a medicine you take, your doctor might change your medicine or dosage.
To prevent the dryness, drink extra water. Cut back on sugary snacks, drinks that have caffeine or alcohol, and tobacco. Your dentist or doctor also might suggest that you keep your mouth wet by using artificial saliva, which you can get from most drug stores. Some people benefit from sucking hard candy.
Oral Cancer
Oral cancer most often occurs in people over age 40. It's important to catch oral cancer early, because treatment works best before the disease has spread. Pain often is not an early symptom of the disease.
A dental check-up is a good time for your dentist to look for early signs of oral cancer. Even if you have lost all your natural teeth, you should still see your dentist for regular oral cancer exams. See your dentist or doctor if you have trouble with swelling, numbness, sores or lumps in your mouth, or if it becomes hard for you to chew, swallow, or move your jaw or tongue. These problems could be signs of oral cancer.
Here's how you can lower your risk of getting oral cancer: don't smoke; don't use snuff or chew tobacco; if you drink alcohol, do so in moderation; use lip cream with sunscreen; and eat lots of fruits and vegetables.
