A Look into Three Common Myths about Dentures
Getting dentures put in is a great way to improve your oral health, appearance and overall quality of life. Whether you have lost all or just a few of your natural teeth, there are dentures designed to suit your situation.
However, there are plenty of myths out there about dentures. These are often either absolute lies or a gross misunderstanding of a fact that can easily be explained. So if you are scheduled to get dentures put in, here are some common myths you should stop believing.
Myth#1: You will never eat or speak the same way again
This is a common and valid concern among people getting dentures since they want to have their lives improved. The truth is that you may need some time to adjust to pronouncing some words or eating certain foods like corn on the cob, but you should be back to normal after the adjustment period.
Further, this does not apply to all kinds of dentures. For instance, if you are getting a complete denture which replaces all your natural teeth, you will likely have temporary pronunciation challenges due to the top palate in the dentures. However, if you are getting partial dentures to replace a few missing teeth, you will not have the pronunciation challenges that people with complete dentures may face.
Ask your dentist which kind of dentures you will need so that you are aware of the potential temporary challenges you may have while adjusting to them.
Myth#2: Dentures are made using a standard mould
This is absolutely not true. The structure of your teeth, mouth and jaws is unique to you. It is therefore impossible to determine a standard mould for all dentures to be used by different people.
Dentures are custom made for you. Your dentist will take an impression of your mouth and jaw during a fitting session. This impression will then be used to design the best fitting dentures for your mouth and jaw and that resemble your teeth.
Myth#3: Dentures are forever
Some people believe that once they get dentures, they are set for life as far as teeth are concerned. The truth is, just like natural teeth, you can damage your dentures if you don't take proper care of them. You may not get cavities in your dentures, but they can change colour and develop plaque if you don't clean them thoroughly and regularly. In fact, dentures are actually softer than natural teeth, so you could chip or break them if you are not careful. This means you don't get a free pass on oral health practices like flossing and brushing your teeth just because you have dentures.
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