You have now been provided with your new dentures. We hope you are pleased with them. As you become accustomed to your teeth the following suggestions may be of some help to you.

Eating

Dentures do not work in the same way as natural teeth. When eating food it should be divided into small portions and chewed on both sides of the mouth. Eating will take slightly longer than usual and hard foods may cause some difficulty. You will find that you will learn a new eating pattern and will be rewarded by perseverance.

Cleaning

Food will stick to your dentures as it does to natural teeth. Your dentures should be cleaned after every meal to keep them fresh. Clean any natural teeth as well.

The best way to clean dentures is to brush them using a denture brush. For plastic dentures we also recommend the use of a hypochlorite soaking cleanser such as Dentural or Sterident. These cleaners however, should not be used for metal dentures.

Under no circumstances should you use household bleaches and cleansers as they may cause irreparable damage to the dentures.

It is best to clean your teeth over a bowl of water which will avoid breakage if they are accidentally dropped. Do not use hot water.

Night Time

Unless advised by your dentist, your dentures should be removed during sleeping. They should be kept in a glass of water overnight.

Problems

Modern dentures rarely cause problems. They keep their appearance, if cleaned properly and regularly, and they are strong enough to withstand all the stresses of normal use. When you first wear your dentures, there will be a feeling of strangeness and occasionally they may feel a little loose. These problems will disappear within a few days of use. Sometimes a denture fixative such as Fixodent can help you through the first few days. If you are unfortunate enough to break a denture, bring it back to us. We will usually be able to repair it for you within 24 hrs.

Adjustments

If after a few days you still feel pressure, chafing or soreness, your dentures may need adjusting. If this happens you must not attempt to adjust them yourself as this may cause severe damage. If your dentures are hurting, please call the surgery (0121 777 1537) to make an appointment to have them adjusted. To avoid disappointment, please do not attend without an appointment.