Because dentures have been around for such a long time, they have had centuries to generate stories and myths. These fables and warning stories are sometimes used to scare children into taking better care of their teeth. Some of these things used to be true, but aren’t anymore — or don’t have to be.
Here are 7 common tales about dentures that we can avoid!
They Slip Out
Slipping out is one of the most common tales told about dentures. It makes for a good story: someone is talking, laughing, or coughing, and out come their dentures. Right in the middle of a fancy dinner. Or while taking communion. Or at a funeral. The more outrageous the place, the better the story.
While this may have been true of your grandfather’s dentures, it doesn’t have to be today. The Denture Fountain of Youth® is better at staying in your mouth than dentures used to be. And for maximum security, we can give you implant dentures that won’t come out at all.
You Can’t Eat Most Foods
It’s a child’s worst nightmare — if you don’t take care of your teeth, you’ll be stuck eating cream of wheat for the rest of your life because dentures don’t let you chew real food. What they don’t tell you is that you might end up on an all ice cream diet, because kids would never brush their teeth again!
The truth of the matter is that eating with dentures can be accomplished once you learn how the technique works. You can enjoy most of your favorite foods even with just properly fitting dentures, but if you really want to eat a full diet, implant dentures are the way to go.
Your Nutrition Suffers
This myth is one that people don’t typically tell their kids because, again, if kids were told they could never eat raw broccoli again , they’d stop brushing their teeth.
Malnutrition is a real concern among seniors who have lost their teeth, but it doesn’t have to be! If your dentures fit properly, you can enjoy a full range of foods to maintain proper nutrition.<
They’re Uncomfortable
The discomfort of dentures is extolled in epic terms. People talk about wanting to take their dentures out when they get home the way they would take off their work boots or tie. It’s just so freeing.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Dentures can be so comfortable that people want to have them in. They may even be tempted to keep their dentures in at night, despite the recommendations against it.
Everyone Can Tell You Have Them
This is something many people believe about dentures — once you have them, everyone will know that they’re there. You’ll make sucking sounds, have a denture smell, and your dentures will slip and click when you talk.
This may have been true in the past, but today dentures can be made so realistic in appearance that when they fit properly no one will even know you have them. Proper fit and proper cleaning will eliminate other possible signs of dentures.
They Lead to Jawbone Loss
This isn’t something that’s passed around the campfire or told to kids. Instead, it’s something that people begin to whisper about when they realize they’re really going to have to get dentures. They begin to fear their face collapsing inward, leading to “denture face.”
Jawbone loss after you have your teeth removed is inevitable, but not all dentures speed up the process. If you are concerned about this, we can give you implant dentures that will prevent the loss of your jawbone.
They Make You Look Older
What is primarily terrifying about the loss of jawbone is the way the face supposedly collapses around your dentures. Dentures that fit poorly and contribute to jawbone loss can definitely lead your lower face to cave in on itself because they don’t properly support your face or replace the lost jawbone and teeth. The result is a sunken in mouth, hanging jowls, excess skin in the neck, and deep folds and wrinkles around the mouth.
But dentures don’t have to make you look older. In fact, they can turn back the clock. By giving better support to your facial structures, The Denture Fountain of Youth® can reduce or eliminate all these common signs of aging.
If you are afraid of what it will be like when you get dentures, let us calm your fears. Please call (803) 781-9090 for an appointment with a Columbia, SC denture dentist at Smile Columbia Dentistry.
