Month: June 2019

It’s usual and customary for people to be concerned about things they’ve not yet experienced or don’t fully understand. That’s normal human behavior. Since not everyone wears dentures, there can be some caution around what to expect when someone first starts to wear them. Although the process will undoubtedly come with a lot of questions – questions that Bella Smiles would love to answer for anyone considering dentures in Sugar Land, TX – we hope the following list of three things to expect when getting a denture helps alleviate any associated stress in the transition!

There is a Learning Curve with Dentures

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As with anything new that you wear, such as contact lenses or even a new pair of shoes that you’ve not yet broken in, there will be a learning curve in the wearing of your dentures, especially if they are removable dentures. Your mouth’s muscles will need to strengthen during this adaption phase to hold the dentures in place. Although there may be the occasional moment or two when you feel that you don’t have control of what your dentures are doing, you can rest assured that this phase will pass as soon as your tongue and cheeks muscles adapt to the presence denture.

You Will Develop Sore Spots When You First Receive the Denture

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Most people can identify with the blisters that accompany wearing a different pair of shoes that they haven’t worn in a while. Ladies, all you have to do is think about the transition from open-heeled summer shoes to fully-heeled winter boots! The same is true with denture wear. And although the condition is fairly common, it could be a sign that your dentures are not fitting as correctly – and comfortably – as they could. Try to wear your denture – opposed to just carrying it in — to your fitting appointments so your dental care team can see where the adjustment needs to be made.

You Will Need to Clean Your Dentures Daily

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You’ll need to treat your dentures with the same at-home diligent care that dental professionals recommend for the health of natural teeth. Just as natural teeth need daily cleaning for the prevention of build-up, staining, and fresh breath, the same is true for denture wearers. And as a side note, remember to store your dentures in a safe place while you’re not wearing them, or they’re being cleaned since both children and pets love to explore them!

Children are susceptible to tooth decay due to their lack of control in their diet and the fact that they haven’t learned proper oral hygiene yet. You can protect your child from tooth decay by being more aware of what causes decay.

Thumb-Sucking

Babies falling asleep sucking their thumbs may be cute, but the habit can have consequences if it is continued into the later years of life. This is especially true if your child sucks their thumb outside of bed, which can cause teeth to shift in the mouth. The good, though, is that permanent teeth will come in and often corrects any problems children may have with their primary teeth.

If you’re concerned about your child’s thumb sucking habit, visiting a Bella Smiles professional can help. Our dentists can use strategies to deal with thumb sucking and prevent the behaviour from occurring by using positive reinforcement as well as dental appliances.

Pacifiers

Pacifiers are a great way to keep children calm and ease pain in babies, especially during medical procedures. They also reduce the risk of infant death due to SIDS and are much easier for children to let go of than sucking the thumb is. However, prolonged use of pacifiers also has negative effects on the health of teeth. They can often cause irregular bites and alignment issues, so it’s best to stop the behavior when your child is comfortable enough.

Bottle Rot

Breastfeeding gives babies the nutrients and immunity boost needed to grow into healthy children and avoid infections, illnesses, and other health issues. Many people believe that breastfeeding causes decay in teeth, but this is not the case. Bottles containing sugary drinks are what increases the risk of tooth decay in children.

This is known as bottle rot and it occurs when your baby’s primary teeth have become infected. Falling asleep with bottles in the mouth is a big contributor, especially when they contain juice, formula, or milk – all of these options contain sugar. Try giving your child water when they sleep as well as reducing the sugar in their diet.

Having your child’s teeth be as healthy as possible is a priority for most parents, so keep your child’s oral health in mind even before teeth have come in.