Whats the point? Well, to keep smiling and stay healthy. Unfortunately, too many seniors figure theres no point to seeing a dentist once theyve started to wear dentures. According to one study as many as 70 percent havent been back to the dentist in five years. But its a mistake. They should see their dentist once a year.
Dentures need inspection. They could be irritating the gums, or they could be inducing sores and tumors in the mouth. Poorly fitting dentures can also damage the jaw joint and speed the loss of supporting bone.
What denture wearers overlook is the fact that the shape of the mouth changes, albeit slowly. The supporting bone recedes about two millimeters every five to eight years. And that is bound to affect a patients appearance, causing deep wrinkles around the mouth or a thin-lipped look, or a jutting chin or pronounced lower jaw pouches. As a result, most dentures need to be replaced in time.
Between regular checkups, a denture wearer can help cut down on bone loss and keep the mouth healthy by consciously chewing straight up and down with equal weight on both sides of the jaw. Sideways chewing or favoring one side of the mouth can make dentures slip and lead to excessive wear.
The denture wearer also needs to brush the soft tissues beneath the denture to stimulate blood circulation and keep the gums healthy. Then, too, the denture should be removed for about eight hours every day. And when a denture breaks or comes loose, the wearer shouldnt try to fix it, but rather should see a dentist.
There are dentists who specialize in elderly patients. Look on line for Geriatric Dentists in your area or ask your friend for a recommendation.
Robin Westen writes about health for national magazines.
See what others have to say about this story or leave a comment of your own.
