More Stable and Secure

If you already have dentures, you know that they can be frustrating. Dentures are typically held in place by a combination of suction and your jaw structure, although some people find they need an adhesive agent to help their dentures remain secure. Regardless, many people experience anxiety and embarrassment about their dentures moving around in their mouth or even falling out.

This isn’t so with implant supported dentures. You’ll have an easier time speaking, chewing, and feeling more at ease with your dentures with implants to properly support them. The lower jaw is more common for implant supported dentures, as dentures are usually much less stable in your lower mouth, however, upper and lower implanted supported dentures can be done and work great for your smile!

Prevent Bone Loss

When people lose their natural teeth, the roots that once helped retain your facial structure are gone. With this, bone loss often happens and can be responsible for a subtle change in your facial structure over time. However, with implant supported dentures, your dental implants will help prevent bone loss, encourage new bone growth, and retain your beautiful facial structure.

That being said, you will need to have adequate bone in your jaw in order to support the placement of your dental implants. This is why it’s better to seek implants as soon as you’re able after losing your natural teeth. That way there’s no risk of bone loss. However, even if you’ve had traditional dentures for years, you could still qualify for implant supported dentures!

More Hygienic and Easier to Clean

Although wearing your implant supported dentures at night isn’t recommended, they can easily be removed, cleaned, and ready for you in the morning. Implant supported dentures tend to be more hygienic than traditional dentures, as they’re easier to remove, clean, and put back in your mouth!

There are two types of implant supported dentures—ball and bar retained. With the ball retained, your denture will snap onto the implant. With the bar retained, a custom bar that attaches to about five dental implants will be used to attach the denture to. Regardless of which one you receive, your dentures will be secure and you’ll feel more confident and at ease than you ever did with traditional dentures!

Visit your dentist to ask about implant supported dentures and find out if you qualify. They’re usually done in a few simple steps—from the consultation to your dental implant procedure to getting custom dentures, you’ll be ready to enjoy your new smile in no time!

The post Transform Your Smile with Implant Supported Dentures appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Causes

If you experience chronic dry mouth, there could be several culprits behind it. One of these is medication. Depending on which medications you’re taking, many of them can be responsible for causing a lack of saliva production. These include psychiatric meds as well as hypertension or even incontinence medications. If you suspect one of your medications (or several) are causing your dry mouth, talk with your doctor about what you can do. Smoking can also cause dry mouth, as can being dehydrated. Many people don’t drink enough water. Aim to get at least five or six glasses a day, more if it’s warm outside and you’re active!

Symptoms

Symptoms of chronic dry mouth include feeling thirsty often, having dry lips or even having sores in your mouth. You may also experience a sticky feeling in your mouth, dry throat, a red tongue, bad breath, and even problems swallowing. While some of these symptoms may seem minor, others—such as trouble swallowing and sores in the mouth—can become bigger problems. And no one likes having bad breath! If you’re experiencing one or more of these symptoms chronically, you could have chronic dry mouth. It’s time to visit your doctor as well as your dentist to see what you can do for your dry mouth.

Finding Relief

One of the easiest things you can do for instant relief is to begin drinking more water. Carry a bottle with you and sip throughout the day. To address your chronic dry mouth, visit your doctor if you suspect the cause is medication. There might be a different medication you can try or perhaps a different dose. There are also medications and rinses that can help your body produce more saliva. Other simple steps you can take are to add a vaporizer to your bedroom, minimize the amount of caffeine or alcohol you consume (both act as dehydrators), and avoid foods that are corrosive to your teeth to prevent further damage.

While having a dry mouth may not seem like a big issue, consider that having a chronic dry mouth can wreak havoc on your teeth. Saliva is meant to nourish our teeth, balance our good and bad bacteria, and prevent plaque from forming. When you have minimal saliva present, your teeth are more at risk for problems that wouldn’t normally develop without the presence of a dry mouth. It’s vital to talk with your dentist to see what you can do to treat your dry mouth before it damages your smile!

The post Chronic Dry Mouth: Signs, Symptoms, and Finding Relief appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.