Dentures are a huge consideration for many Canadians. An approximate 12 million Canadians today have at least one dental need that is untreated, and 70% of citizens will develop gum disease at some point. Denturists in one of the 4 colleges in Canada that train in denturism are required to undergo 3 years of training to be qualified to fit dentures, but there are some things to keep in mind when considering whether to get dentures or not:
- Cost- affordable dentures are hard to come by, and in many instances, you get exactly what you pay for. Check the reputation and reviews for your chosen denturists to be sure that “affordable dentures” doesn’t mean “wooden dentures” or some oral disaster waiting to happen.
- Be patient. Full dentures are not real teeth, and learning to wear and maintain them takes time. Lower dentures take longer to acclimate to because of your tongue. Eventually your tongue will not slip them out of your mouth but will “learn” to hold them down when you speak.
- The first few days after getting dentures you should only eat soft foods. As you graduate to harder foods, chew slowly while you grow used to using the dentures.
- Don’t take large bites, and don’t bite with the front teeth. Chew food with the back molars or risk messing up the front structure of your dentures and subsequently your mouth.
- There will be sore spots to begin with. If open sores develop on your gums you should call your denturist to have them looked at.
- At first, your speech patterns may be a little different. Practicing in front of a mirror can help with difficult speech and boost your confidence.
- Always, always, always clean your dentures every morning and night.
- Remove your dentures at night and keep them in water or a cleansing solution to stop them from warping due to drying out. Cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing just in case they come out.
- Mouth tissues change as you age, and gum tissue is no exception. To ensure a good fit, get a denture checkup at least once a year.
- Never ever try to repair or adjust your dentures on your own. An ill-fitting denture can be very destructive to your oral health.