There are a lot of reasons people lose teeth. Sometimes an injury or trauma forced their teeth from their gums. Other times, disease can cause the teeth to rot and fall out. Tooth loss or decay can be challenging to live with.
Having empty spaces between teeth can cause discomfort when you eat. It can also cause the teeth you still have to move and shift to fill the empty spaces. Without doing something to keep your teeth in place, they will eventually shift, which can cause discomfort. Empty spaces in your teeth can also make you feel self-conscious and stop you from smiling as much as you want to.
When you have empty spaces in your teeth, there are lots of different methods you can use to get your smile back. A dentist will help you make a comparison between things like dental implants and dentures, but one of the more popular choices to fix missing teeth is to be fitted with dentures.
While you may feel embarrassed about needing dentures or feel like they are only for the elderly, they can be a practical solution for those who are missing teeth. If you are interested in the pros and cons of wearing dentures, keep reading. They might be just the thing to treat your missing teeth!
They are easy to care for
Dentures require the same level of care that teeth do, just in a slightly different way. They require gentle brushing with denture cleaner, not toothpaste. They also require soaking in denture solution to prevent them from drying out overnight.
As long as you handle them with care and do not use abrasive products on them, your dentures will remain in great condition. While they do require extra work, it is nothing that is too involved or tedious. Once you get into a routine, you will have no trouble caring for your dentures.
Dentures look natural
Many people who are missing teeth, feel anxious about the way their mouth looks. It can affect their confidence and prevent them from smiling from day today. Dentures look and feel like regular teeth. No one will know that you are wearing them, so you do not have to feel self-conscious about the idea.
They can support your jaw
Loss of teeth can cause a whole host of issues with your mouth. They can make your cheeks sag by weakening the muscles in your jaw. Dentures can improve your appearance by supporting the muscles in your mouth like your natural teeth would.
They can help you eat
A gummy mouth can make it painful or even impossible to eat the foods you love. Since dentures act like regular teeth, they will be able to chew your favorite foods for you. You do not have to worry about being confined to a liquid diet or soft foods any longer.
As you can see, there are a lot of benefits to getting dentures and using them as a solution to your missing teeth.
While this might persuade you into getting dentures, you should still be aware that with every good thing, there are still some cons. Dentures are not a perfect solution and there are some things you should know before you decide to get them.
They are not permanent
Dentures are not a permanent solution to missing teeth. They do not last forever. Most of them last less than ten years and will need to be replaced eventually. This can place a financial burden on your wallet since you will have to pay for a new one every ten years or so.
They may have to be refitted
Your gums and bones in your mouth can shrink as you age and as you lose teeth. This means that you may need several dentist appointments to have your dentures refitted to your mouth. Dentures that are too loose can cause irritation as well, so it is important that you do get them to refit if they are lost in your mouth.
They require practice
While dentures should look and feel like regular teeth, they can feel weird when you first start wearing them. There is a learning period when it comes to wearing dentures and it could take you several months to learn how to eat and speak with them in your mouth.
They can provoke the gage reflux
There are a lot of people who report their dentures provoking their gag reflux. This can be due to several factors, such as the patient not adjusting well to them or the dentures not fitting your mouth correctly.
The good news about the number of cons on this list is that several of these can be fixed or mended with time. With enough practice, your dentures should work for you like your regular teeth and stop feeling weird in your mouth. If you get them refitted and adjusted as needed, you will stop feeling the need to gag when you wear them.
While there is nothing you can do to make dentures permanent, by taking proper care of them, you can extend their shelf life and make them last as long as possible. Also, since most dentures are covered by dental insurance, your insurance provider can cover some of the cost it will take to have them replaced. This will take away some of the burden from your wallet.
Getting dentures is a big decision and you should carefully discuss the pros and cons with your dentist before you make any final decisions. They can give you a thorough evaluation and decide whether they are the right thing for you.
There are still a lot of pros and cons we did not cover on this list so be sure to talk to your dentist about any questions or concerns you have about your dentures. Hopefully, they can give you back the smile you have been missing. Chat with your dentist to schedule your denture consultation today.
