DENTURE CARE INSTRUCTIONS Dentistry for Total Body Wellness DENTURE CARE INSTRUCTIONS When you receive your denture(s) we ask that you attempt to wear them all day. After the first day take them out for at least 8 hours. This eight hour break could be at night and we find that many patients find it convenient to take them out while they sleep at night and do this as part of their routine. Taking your dentures out for the 8 hour period will allow your gums to stay healthy and allow the jaw bones to shrink less. Dentures should be stored in clean water when removed from your mouth. All commercial denture cleansers are fine to store them in. After the natural teeth are extracted there will be considerable shrinkage of the gums. This will continue to some extent for the rest of your life. Since your gums change, dentures cannot be worn indefinitely without adjustment. Like clothing or eye glasses they must be altered periodically to fit your changing makeup. The changes causing these adjustments are occurring in your mouth and gum tissues.   During the first few days of your dentures you will want to eat only soft foods. As you progress to more solid foods chew slowly with an even amount of food on both the left and right side of your mouth. Applying force to only one side of your mouth/ denture may cause tipping of the denture and possible breaking of the seal. It is crucial to keep your denture clean! Certain foods can easily get trapped underneath the appliance and if not cleaned or cared for may cause painful irritation.  When cleaning your denture use a brush and water or any liquid soap that you would use on dishes. Do not to use toothpaste when cleaning your appliance since they may have abrasives that are meant to polish the enamel of teeth and may cause damage to plastics and artificial teeth. It is also a good idea to brush your appliance over the sink while it is partially filled with water. If you were to accidentally drop your appliance the water will cushion the fall, reducing the chance of breaking. If kept clean your dentures will fit better and become more comfortable. Food debris and bacteria build up on dentures that are not kept clean and can lead to other mouth and health problems. 2015 Integrative Oral Medicine Your Name Here

DENTURE CARE INSTRUCTIONS Page 2 Dentistry for Total Body Wellness DENTURE CARE INSTRUCTIONS Page 2 When you first start wearing your dentures you may find that your speech pattern may be altered and difficult to cope with. Once you become more comfortable wearing your appliance your speech pattern will return to how it used to be. Try to read out loud to yourself in a private place and practice new lip movements that make your speech clear and crisp. Most patients can adapt nicely to new oral appliances however, it can take some practice.   Dentures will alter your ability to chew. Patients normally look forward to the day when they will receive their new dentures but there are other problems when you don’t have your natural teeth. It is harder to thoroughly chew your food which can aggravate your digestive tract. Take more time to chew thoroughly and do not swallow large pieces of food since this can also lead to choking. Do not be afraid to let people close to you know your situation since you may need more time at meals or may need to be selective in your food choices. Certain foods like lettuce, large sandwiches, etc. and hard foods like carrots may need to be prepared differently to make them easier to eat. Be creative and continue to eat healthy foods since this is critical for good overall health. Your positive mental attitude and adaptability are of utmost importance when learning how to use your new dentures. Keep a positive attitude and be open to learning how to best use your new teeth. Do not set your expectations too high. Remember a denture is a replacement for no teeth, it is not a replacement for and it will not perform like natural teeth. If you may have any further questions feel free to call our office. 2015 Integrative Oral Medicine Your Name Here