FAQs
Kamloops Denture and Implant Centre has been helping the residents of Kamloops with dentures since 1967. Below are some of the commonly asked questions which can help you get a clear idea about dentures. If you have further questions about dentures or want to book an appointment, contact us. We will be glad to be at your service.
When do I need to replace my dentures?
Be aware that your mouth changes over time. It’s time to visit our denture clinic if your teeth slip while you talk or at the dinner table. While this situation may be annoying, it can also be unhealthy – your bone can be eroded and you can end up with sores in your mouth.
What is causing my dentures to hurt?
They may not fit your mouth anymore. Remember, both bone and tissue shift and change shape over time, causing your dentures not to fit anymore. You may suffer from dry mouth and have the sores that can result from that condition. You may have developed bone chips, or you may simply need to take better care of your dentures and your mouth tissues with better hygiene. Come see us at Kamloops Denture and Implant Centre and ask.
How can I relieve the pain until I get to the clinic?
Just leave your dentures out of your mouth, and rinse your mouth with salt dissolved in warm water. To avoid pain, brush your gums, palate and tongue with a soft toothbrush after meals and before bed. And when you arrive at Kamloops Denture and Implant Centre, ask us about soft liners under lower dentures.
How do salt water rinses work?
Salt water rinses have anti-bacterial and healing properties that make them perfect for sore throats, sores, healing gum tissues and more. Salt temporarily increases the pH level of the mouth, creating an alkaline environment. Since bacteria prefer an acidic environment, they find this type of environment difficult to survive in. This is how salt water mouth rinses can help keep bacteria from multiplying in your mouth.
Salt’s healing properties stem from the fact that it is an isotonic solution that contains an equal concentration of the minerals and salts naturally found in the body. Because of this, salt water rinses will not irritate the mucous membranes the way some medicinal mouthwashes do.
Why are dentures so expensive?
Not all dentures are expensive. But this is one area where it’s unwise to skimp. Cheap dentures tend to be poorly designed, leading to sores inside your mouth. These sores can even cause joint and jaw disorders, resulting in more expense! Ill-fitting dentures can affect your appearance, adding wrinkles around your mouth and cheeks – and causing you to stop socializing, which can even affect your emotional health. Low-cost dentures typically are high-cost, in the end.
Why does my face look different?
Have you just gotten your first set of dentures? If so, the unaccustomed feeling of teeth where there weren’t any can make you feel that your lips are pushing outward. This change in your appearance is for the better, and your mouth will feel more natural as you get used to the dentures. But if you notice additional wrinkles around your cheeks and lips or a sunken look in your face, come see us at Kamloops Denture and Implant Centre. It may be time for new dentures. Most people need to replace their dentures every 5 to 7 years, with annual gum exams.
Are there particular foods I should avoid?
Avoiding foods you ate before you wore dentures is generally a bad idea, as long as those foods were healthful ones. While eating with dentures does take some practice, in time you should be able to eat everything you did previous to your dentures. At first, eat soft foods cut into small pieces. Chew slowly on both sides of your mouth. Return slowly to your normal diet, but do avoid hard or sticky foods. And don’t use toothpicks!
How to adjust to your new dentures?
You’ve seen folks with new dentures. They lisp, their teeth move, they bite strangely. Kamloops Denture and Implant Centre will help you avoid these embarrassing – and temporary – situations.
Swallow!
Because you have what your body perceives as a foreign object in your mouth, new dentures will inevitably make you produce extra saliva. It happens to everyone.
Call if soreness persists
If your gums feel sore after you have worn your new dentures for a few hours, and if this situation occurs repeatedly, call Kamloops Denture and Implant Centre so that we can adjust your dentures.
Getting used to your new teeth
It will take a little time to get used to having a full mouth of teeth again. Some people feel that their lips and mouth are out of place with dentures. Your mouth will look perfectly natural; trust us! You’ll get used to this feeling in time.
Trouble talking?
Any changes in your speech will be more noticeable to you than to any listeners. Since you hear your own voice through the bones of your head, the sound of your speech is greatly magnified to you. Experiencing that “denture click?” Slow down! Use the muscles of your lips, tongue, and cheeks to hold that lower denture in place. It takes a little practice but you’ll soon get rid of the click.
Trouble at the table?
Eating with new dentures can be a challenge, since your brain is focused more on your new teeth and less on your food. Food can lose flavour for a time after you get dentures, and the process of chewing may feel strange. Before long, your brain will become accustomed to this “foreign object” in your mouth, focusing more on the taste and texture of the food itself.
Questions?
Hang in there, and be careful! You might have trouble sensing heat in your food and drink. If you have questions, you’re always welcome to call us at Kamloops Denture and Implant Centre.
