How to Keep Gum From Sticking to Dentures

Why can gum get stuck to dentures & What To Do About it

Nowadays wearing dentures is a feasible endeavor, with modern the modern version of dentures has come leaps and bounds from where they used to be, you no longer need to worry about aesthetics or practicality when choosing this option. Extremely convenient, this type of medical prosthetic is suitable for a wide array of jaw shapes and palates while remaining relatively convenient in its use as well as its maintenance. Although they come with benefits, it’s important to note that like most things they also have drawbacks the most notable one being that it’s not a one-stop job. Having dentures put in will cause the shape of your jaw and gums to change over time, making regular adjustments necessary, the process of putting in the dentures will also likely be done in several sittings. Moreover, they’re made easily removable for maintenance’s sake, although it does make the job easier it also increases the chances of certain things remaining lodged in there. Bad hygiene practices will lead these bacteria to foster leaving a nasty acidic smell behind. 

With the advancements in science as well as the growth of technology, we’ve been able to adapt widely used consumer products such as gum to various segments of the population most notably individuals with sensitive teeth. Were it be because you have dentures or just hypersensitive teeth there are gum on the market today to address your needs, more often than not sugar-free, they tend to lack the harder shell most gums with sugar have and are more neutral in taste as well as color as to not stain your teeth. Furthermore, beyond being healthier than a classic stick of gum they will be a better option for your overall hygiene health with the lack of sugar discouraging the propagation of bacteria. 

Although versatile owning dentures will require you to pay closer attention to your diet perhaps slightly tweaking it for fewer headaches as well as, having impeccable oral hygiene habits. With this new set of teeth, you might notice certain foods that have a tendency to be sticky or brittle can become trapped within your dentures. If not well looked after, the fostering bacteria can lead to you developing certain irritation or infections. However, if properly maintained, there is nothing you need to worry about when wearing dentures. 

Your new set of teeth will take some getting used to, you will most likely new to get reacquainted with biting as well as chewing and pretty much everything that implies using your mouth but more particularly putting any kind of pressure on your teeth. Chewing gum will promote the use of your jaw while forcing you to practice how to properly apply said pressure. Furthermore, as previously expressed dentures will gradually cause the shape of your jaw and gums to change, regular gum chewing could contribute to mitigating this process slightly. With sugar-free gum often being suitable for denture wearers it is not your only option and you’re free to go with any option that is considered “denture safe”.  What’s more, the process of chewing gum will prevent you from developing dry mouth thus forcing you to produce saliva. Our saliva has the capacity to neutralize all types of bacteria (with disinfecting wounds being one of its many uses), particularly the acid kind which tend to reside and be more common in our mouth. It’s the neutralization of this bacteria that helps you combat bad breath, tooth decay and all types of other diseases.

Although cavities aren’t something you need to worry about once you have dentures, bacteria buildup is not something you’re immune from and is in fact still very much possible. Often the main culprit when it comes to complaints over odor issues when sporting dentures, plaque, or tartar build-up as a result of unregular of infrequent cleaning can lead to a nasty smell developing. Again, all of this is why an emphasis should imperatively be put on oral hygiene. Easily adjustable and removable, they should be cleaned on a daily basis by being soaked and brushed, it0s also possible for you to leave them in a liquid solution overnight for a more thorough clean thus stopping food or gum from getting lodged in them. 

If you ever do find yourself in a situation where gum is stuck to your dentures there are a couple of possible steps you could consider taking:

1.    First, line any “gum stuck to something” situation, and attempt to take as much of that gum off as possible with your own hands as you can. 
2.    Once that’s done, you’ll want to let your dentures soak in lukewarm white vinegar (which is ideally relatively inexpensive) for a couple of minutes or until you’ve gotten rid of all of the gum residue. Be careful not to let your dentures soak to long as this could lead to damage to your dental prosthesis. The vinegar will cause the gum to gradually dissolve leaving your dentures clean but not smelling the best. 
3.    Once cleaned and gum free, you will most likely want to get rid of that vinegary smell, the best way to go about this is to thoroughly rinse and brush your dentures until the smell dissipates. 

Overall, the best dentists in Brooklyn will tell you, that wearing dentures does not mean you need to give up on chewing gum in fact, as demonstrated throughout this article it can even be beneficial when utilized in moderation, if after all of this you still find you struggle with this you may want to look into the denture adhesives available on the market with the use of one preventing all chance of gum getting stuck to your dentures.

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