Dentures can help restore your smile and your confidence. However, they don’t last forever. With proper care, dentures can last up to around seven to ten years. But how often you should replace dentures depends on how well you take care of them. This guide will help you recognize when it’s time for your dentures to be replaced, so you can keep eating, speaking, and smiling comfortably.
Five Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Dentures
1: They Feel Uncomfortable
Custom dentures are designed to fit comfortably in your mouth. While there may be some discomfort when you first get them, you should get used to new dentures after about a month. If your discomfort continues, they likely need to be adjusted. But if you start feeling mouth irritation or jaw pain after you’ve had your dentures for a while, they probably need to be replaced.
2: You Have Mouth Sores
Persistent mouth sores and irritated gums indicate that your dentures no longer fit properly. Ongoing gum irritation can lead to gum disease, which causes a whole host of other problems, including a higher risk of heart disease and other health conditions. Replacing your dentures will relieve your pain and protect your health.
3: They Fall Out Easily
Dentures that frequently slip or fall out can be embarrassing as well as inconvenient. Loose dentures can also irritate your gums. Ill-fitting dentures can be the result of changes in the shape of your mouth, and should be replaced with ones that fit securely.
4: It’s Difficult to Speak or Eat
You should be able to speak clearly and eat comfortably while wearing your dentures. If you start to have trouble enunciating words or find yourself altering your diet because of your dentures, you may need to replace them.
5: Your Dentures Are Damaged or Discolored
Dentures experience daily wear and tear over the years, and they may eventually chip or crack. And consuming a lot of teeth-staining foods like dark berries and coffee can discolor your dentures over time. If you notice any visible damage, or would like to brighten your smile, then it’s time to replace your dentures.
What Happens If You Don’t Replace Your Dentures?
Even if you take the best possible care of your dentures, they will eventually wear out after about a decade. But you may need new ones sooner than expected if you fail to keep your dentures clean, eat a lot of hard foods, or if there are any changes to your face shape or further tooth loss.
Wearing dentures that don’t fit or function properly can lead to serious dental problems. Worn out or damaged dentures are more difficult to clean, increasing the risk of gum disease and putting your remaining teeth at risk of decay. And dentures that no longer fit properly can cause serious discomfort and painful mouth sores.
Dentures and Partials in Flagstaff, Arizona
You don’t have to live with the pain and challenges of old, worn out dentures. If you’ve noticed any signs your dentures need to be replaced, come to Country Club Dental. Our team can restore your smile with comfortable, custom-fitted full dentures or partials. Call us at 928-526-4314 today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Paul Whitney or Dr. Mikaela Weedman.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (11/14/2023). Photo by Ivan Samkov on Pexels
