Ready for Your Very First Denture? Not Until You Read This

March 20, 2017

Filed under: Blog,Dental Implants and Dentures — tntadmin @ 10:18 am

Dentures – whether used for replacing all or some of your teeth, can seem daunting. Even small acts like chewing and speaking with dentures initially can cause discomfort or pain. Apart from getting habituated to them, it is also essential to maintain them properly.

We have listed below some important aspects to help you get comfortable with your new dentures and handle them correctly. Let’s take a look:

Oral Hygiene

The importance of oral hygiene can never be undervalued. And, with people using dentures, it becomes all the more essential. You should keep a close watch on the condition of your gums, rest of your natural teeth if any, tongue and the insides of your cheek. Also, the dentures are prone to getting stained or damaged by bacteria. So it is crucial that you don’t neglect their maintenance. Use a brush with soft bristles and consult a dentist to know how to clean your dentures properly.

Denture Care

You should regularly soak your dentures as instructed. This helps remove any residual food particles, harmful germs and bacteria. It is unadvisable to use any kind of cleaning solutions for dentures while they are within the mouth. Hence, always soak them in an appropriate container.

Choosing Adhesives

Denture adhesives can help you with adjustment problems, by easing the discomfort. However, this does not mean that anybody with dentures can use such adhesives. The needs vary according to the user and the design of the dentures. Before choosing any such adhesives, it is mandatory that you check with a dentist about it.

Consume More Water

Be it with dentures or with natural teeth, a dry mouth leads to decay and bad breath. So, make a conscious effort to drink more water. This will help you get rid of soreness and irritation caused by using a denture in a dry mouth.

Eat Wisely

Dentures are built to suit the natural design of your jaws. But, at an early stage you should bear in mind that you are not used to chewing with them. Therefore, to avoid harming them or yourself, and to keep them healthy in the long run, you should watch what and how you eat. It is best to not eat sticky or sugar and acid rich foods. Start with softer foods and small pieces, so chewing becomes easy and comfortable.

Practice Talking

First time denture users often avoid talking to avoid irritation and at times embarrassment. However, dentists suggest that they should in fact knowingly make an effort to talk more. This can help them get comfortable with their dentures faster.

It is however important to know that your natural teeth if maintained well, can eliminate the need for dentures. This can be done by including some simple habits in your daily routine. Like eating wisely, using a soft brush and correct brushing ways, regular flossing, drinking liquids like juices with straws, quit smoking, having a basic awareness about oral health and undergoing periodic dental check-ups.

Get in touch with us at Joshua Hong DDS in Goodyear AZ today, to know more about how you can retain healthy natural teeth for years. And, even if you are using dentures then we can help you to get used to them, effortlessly. Our dedicated Smile Team is ever-ready to resolve any of your concerns related to oral health.

Millennials Beware: What Avoiding Dental Visits Can Actually Lead to

March 11, 2017

Filed under: Blog,Oral Health — tntadmin @ 11:19 am

A study by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) indicates adults age 20-44, otherwise known as Millennials or Gen Y, are the segment with the highest percentage of untreated decay in their permanent teeth. This is because of the growing trend of self-diagnoses after researching symptoms on the internet.

Further research into the matter indicated that adults age 20-34 are more likely to have avoided the dentist for 2-3 years. And, that is where the downfall of oral health begins. If you are a part of Gen Y and the above mentioned habits seem familiar to you, you should take a look at what’s in store for you!

  • Bruxism
    More commonly known as constant teeth grinding may not seem like a serious dental problem at first but it can wear out your teeth and cause them to chip or break gradually. Chronic teeth grinding may result in fracturing, loosening, or even loss of teeth, in some cases. Persistence of such a problem will not only damage your teeth, but it may also affect your jaws and result in malfunctioning of the Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) which can even change the appearance of your face.
  • Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD)
    This disorder is extremely tough to diagnose as these symptoms occur in areas other than the jaw and require physical examination of your mouth by the dentist as well as specialized tests such as the BITE Test in certain cases. If a dysfunctional TMJ goes unnoticed, it can lead to:

    1. Loss of hearing
    2. Speech abnormality
    3. Severe headaches
    4. Oral deformation
    5. Digestive tract health problems
    6. Immune dysfunction
  • Hypersensitivity
    As you begin to age, you may begin to notice heighten sensitivity in your teeth due to consumption of extremely cold or hot foods. This can happen due to decaying teeth, chipped teeth, worn-out enamel, tooth decay or even gum disease.  The severity depends on the health of your teeth. However, if left untreated for long amounts of time, it may lead to hypersensitivity and eventually result in loss of teeth.
  • Dry mouth
    The lack of saliva can cause significant damage to your teeth and gums as it washes away food and other debris, neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth, while maintaining the health of the soft and hard tissues in the mouth. The reduced supply of saliva or the lack thereof may can ultimately result in tooth and gum decay.
  • Gum disease
    People usually don’t show signs of gum disease until they are in their 30s or 40s.  The first stage of gum disease is called gingivitis, which may lead to periodontitis, a more serious, destructive form of the same, if it is left untreated. This can result in significant damage to the bones, gums, and tissue that support the teeth and putting the sufferer at risk of losing teeth and supporting bone.
  • Oropharyngeal Cancer
    The symptoms of oropharyngeal cancer usually start as a tiny, white or red spot or sore or swelling anywhere in the mouth or throat. It could be anything ranging from a sore lump to numbness in certain areas. Such symptoms aren’t indicative of oral cancer and require further inspection by trained professionals to ascertain the root cause of the same.

    As you can see, to ensure you are safe and protected from the above mentioned oral problems, timely dental check-ups are an absolute must. This will improve the chances of catching suspicious changes in your oral health early and preventative measures can be taken well in time.  If you are facing any problems while chewing, swallowing, speaking or moving your tongue or jaw, make an appointment with our experienced Smile Team at Joshua Hong DDS and we will make sure relief is on the way.