Are you suffering from missing teeth? Your smile feels incomplete and you worry about what kind of affect missing teeth can have on your oral health. With summer coming up, you don’t want to have to worry about picking up a piece of corn-on-the-cob at a barbeque and not being able to chew it. Partial dentures are a natural-looking restorative option that can aid your jaw function and help improve your ability to chew and speak. Read on to learn what problems they can fix and the benefits they can offer you.
What Problems Can Partial Dentures Fix?
If you leave missing teeth unreplaced, it could result in serious oral health problems. It could cause your bite pressure to shift, your teeth to become misaligned, and even result in bone decay. When your teeth begin to shift to fill in the gap, it could cause the rest of your smile to become crooked. When your jaw bone and oral tissues begin to shrink your face can begin to sag and look droopy. Partial dentures help stimulate your gums, jawbone, and muscles to prevent detrimental effects on your oral health and restore your smile.
What Are the Benefits of Partial Dentures?
Partial dentures are a less invasive and less expensive restorative option for missing teeth. While they do require basic maintenance and you’ll need to get used to them, they can boost your confidence by restoring your smile with their natural look. They will also improve your ability to do basic functions like speak, chew, and eat. If you require replacement teeth in the future, they’re easy to add to.
They can improve your oral health by filling in the gaps left behind by your missing teeth. When these gaps aren’t occupied, food debris can easily become lodged. When this happens, it can turn your mouth into a bacterial breeding ground and can result in harmful oral health problems like gum disease.
How Would You Take Care of Your Partial Dentures?
Not only will you need to care for your partial dentures, but also your mouth and gums in order to maintain good oral health. It’s important to clean them daily in order to prevent bacteria buildup that could irritate your gums. Daily partial denture cleaning includes:
- Rinsing them under warm water after each meal to dislodge food particles. Don’t use boiling water because it could warp them.
- Brushing them daily with a soft toothbrush and soap or denture paste. Regular toothpaste can scratch them and be too abrasive.
- Using cleaning tablets while they’re soaking can help remove stains and tackle plaque buildup.
Caring for your mouth and gums is just as important as cleaning your dentures. If you don’t, it could cause your gums to become irritated. Following these steps can help keep your oral health in check:
- When you’re not wearing your dentures, keep them in water or denture solution so they don’t dry out and become brittle.
- Allow your gums to breathe and relax at night by taking them out before you go to sleep.
- Be sure to clean your natural teeth and gums with a separate soft toothbrush from the one you clean your partial dentures with.
Don’t let missing teeth take a toll on your overall oral health and confidence. Look after your wellbeing and complete your smile by investing in partial dentures—you won’t regret it!
About the Author
Dr. Dennis Stansbury has been practicing dentistry for over 44 years. His favorite part about his profession is interacting with his patients on a daily basis and getting to know them. He takes continuing education courses to further his skills and keep him abreast with the most advanced treatments and technology in his field. For any questions or to schedule an appointment, visit his website or contact 903-561-1122.