As a new denture wearer, you may have heard that there are several maintenance steps necessary to preserve these dental restorations and continue enjoying a beautiful smile. These measures include cleaning the dentures regularly, storing them in a glass of water at night, and protecting them from physical damage. However, few people will tell you that your mouth could be your greatest foe to the dentures. These restorations do not perform well when exposed to drying conditions. Therefore, if you have a dry mouth, you may find yourself visiting a cosmetic dentist for denture repairs.
This article will address some of the symptoms of dry mouth that you should look out for and how you can combat the condition to optimize the performance of your dentures.
Symptoms of dry mouth
Most people who suffer from dry mouth may not realize it. As a denture wearer, it is paramount that you look out for the following signs which are an indication that you are not producing adequate saliva to keep your mouth and dentures moist at all times:
Since dentures work well in moist conditions, they may fail to fit properly after a while. The lack of lubrication in the mouth will also cause discomfort as you wear and remove the dentures. A dry mouth creates a suitable environment for the growth of harmful bacteria that causes gum disease and tooth decay.
Causes of dry mouth
Several factors are responsible for causing a dry mouth. First, certain medication, especially allergy drugs can be causing the problem. Additionally, lifestyle behaviors such as alcohol consumption and smoking can cause a dry mouth. Diseases such as diabetes can also inhibit the ability of the salivary glands to produce adequate saliva in the mouth. You should check with your doctor for assessment so that they can help you pinpoint the cause of dry mouth to ensure that it does not cause a problem with your dentures.
How to prevent dry mouth
If the reason you have a dry mouth is medication or disease, there may be little you can do to prevent the situation. However, there are steps you can take to ensure that your mouth is moist at all times. First, consume adequate water and other healthy beverages throughout the day. Secondly, there are products that you can use to keep your mouth and dentures moist. Ask your dentist to recommend one of the best ones on the market.
Dentures are great options for replacing lost teeth and restring your beautiful smile. See your dentist if you notice any discomfort that could be attributed to a dry mouth or other dental problems.
Share17 November 2017
When I had my first child, I was a nervous wreck. Every book I read gave different advice, and I just wanted to be right! By the time I had my third child, some of the stress had abated. I now realised, there were tons of different perspectives on everything related to raising children including dentistry. To help parents, I have created this blog dedicated to unraveling dental myths about children. I am including posts that weigh both sides of issues such as thumb sucking, dental caries, breastfeeding, flossing and any other topic I can think of. I hope you find the information you need to unravel dental myths, but most importantly, I hope you find some peace of mind. With kids and dentistry, there can be more than one right answer, and I want you to be able to relax and go with the answer that's right for you.
