About 41 million adults in the U.S. wear dentures. In the 2015 Biting Into Denture Care survey, sponsored by GSK Consumer Healthcare, 56% of survey participants felt that wearing dentures has a negative impact on their romantic life. And because of dentures, 24% of the participants are afraid to kiss passionately.
Why the worry? Eating, laughing, and yes, kissing cause uneasy feelings for many denture wearers, because the appliance may loosen, have an odor, or make embarrassing clicking sounds.
What can be done about these valid concerns?
- Denture odor – The dental appliance itself doesn’t automatically have an unpleasant odor. The Biting Into Denture Care survey shows that although 78% of denture wearers believe that they must keep their dentures super clean, about 89% of denture wearers are not correctly cleaning the appliance. So here are some tips:
- Each day, rinse your dentures thoroughly. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive denture cleaner to remove food and plaque from your dentures. Also rinse your mouth and brush your tongue, gums, and the roof of your mouth to remove food debris and the order that often goes with it.
- Soak your dentures in fresh water or denture-soaking solution.
- Remove your dentures before you go to sleep at night. Your saliva production reduces at night, so if you wear your dentures overnight, they will be more likely to collect plaque and bacteria.
- Dentures that click or loosen
- Choose a dentist who will ensure that your dentures fit properly. Quality impressions of your mouth must be taken for new dentures. They also must be properly lined and correctly fitted. If your appliance is older, it may need to be re-lined.
- Consider having your dental appliance stabilized with dental implants. Dental implants are surgically placed in your jawbone. The appliance is secured to them, and it won’t move around or come out. This procedure helps you speak, eat, laugh, and pucker up with confidence.
This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge dentist Dr. Steven Collins.