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Denture Troubles Home Remedies
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The Etruscans of central Italy invented false teeth nearly 3,000 years ago. They made dentures out of ox teeth, held together with highly visible gold bands. For Etruscans, wearing dentures was nothing to be ashamed of—it was actually a status symbol.
False teeth have come a long way since Etruscan times. Today, with millions of Americans wearing at least partial dentures, choices in dental ware abound. There are partial and full dentures, those that can be removed, and those that are implanted into the bone and become like real teeth.
All dentures, like any artificial body part, take some getting used to, says prosthodontist George A. Murrell, D.D.S. He and other specialists have some suggestions.
Panel of Advisors
George A. Murrell, D.D.S., is a retired prosthodontist in Manhattan Beach, California. He also has taught at the University of Southern California School of Dentistry in Los Angeles.
Eric Shapira, D.D.S., M.A., M.H.A., is a dental consultant, clinical gerontologist, and educator based in Montara, California. He is the founder of Aging Mentor Services, which provides counseling and care management to older adults and families in transition.
Richard Shepard, D.D.S., is a retired dentist in Durango, Colorado.
Jerry F. Taintor, D.D.S., M.S., is an endodontist in private practice in Memphis, Tennessee. He is the co-author of The Complete Guide to Better Dental Care.
Remedies
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Look in the mirror
Smile. Frown. Be happy. Be sad. Be serious. Practice moving your teeth and lips in private so that you'll be more confident in front of other people, says Dr. Murrell.
Practice talking
"Having dentures is like having a prosthetic limb," says Jerry F. Taintor, D.D.S. "You have to practice using it to use it well." Say your vowels. Recite your consonants.
Make a video
Videos are valuable for several reasons, says Dr. Murrell. They give you a stranger's-eye view of how you look.
Use an adhesive
If you feel that your new teeth are a less-than-perfect fit, there's nothing wrong with using a denture adhesive during the adjustment period, says Dr. Taintor.
Start soft and slow
No, you're not doomed to baby foods for the rest of your life, but start soft, says Dr. Taintor.
Scrub with soap and water
When you're finished eating, take your dentures out and scrub them with plain soap and lukewarm water.
Get those choppers clean
If you wear implants, you'll need to set up a twice-daily cleaning ritual just like when you were caring for your original teeth, says Dr. Murrell.
Polish away plaque
"Babies are born with plaque in their mouths," says Eric Shapira, D.D.S.
Try a lozenge
One common complaint among denture wearers, says Dr. Murrell, is excess saliva during the first few weeks of wearing dentures.
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Polish away plaque
Practice talking
Use an adhesive