Dentures the best alternative to lost teeth
Jul 20, 2008
LIKE the members of a football team, your teeth depend on each other to function. The whole set is needed for effective and comfortable chewing, clear speech and an attractive smile.<br>
By Fred Ouma
LIKE the members of a football team, your teeth depend on each other to function. The whole set is needed for effective and comfortable chewing, clear speech and an attractive smile.
Howard Besigye, a dental prosthetist at Denture Care Centre in Kamwokya, says when one loses a tooth, the neighbouring teeth may tilt toward the empty space.
Sometimes the teeth in the opposite jaw also move up or down toward the space. As a result, the teeth lose their correct position, leading to serious dental problems.
“The pointed cusps of the teeth in one jaw may not fit into the depressions of the teeth in the other jaw,†explains Besigye. “Thus when the mouth is closed, it becomes difficult for one to find a comfortable resting position for the teeth.â€
He says people with such a problem may develop a habit of grinding their teeth, which can wear down the teeth, make them sore, causing gum problems and creating pain in the jaw joint.
“Chewing and other movements of the mouth puts stress on the teeth when they are not in the correct position. This not only push the teeth even farther out of line but can also cause the gum and bone that hold them in place to break down,†he says.
Teeth that are tipped or out of position are often hard to clean. Experts say they can trap plaque, which can cause tooth decay, gum disease and the loss of more teeth.
Using dentures
Missing teeth can be replaced by dentures.
Dentures help someone to eat and speak well in addition to maintaining the shape of the mouth. They are available in most pharmacies and cost between sh60,000 and sh1m depending on whether it is a partial or a complete denture.
Like natural teeth, dentures must be brushed daily to remove food deposits and plaque. It is best to use a brush designed for cleaning them.
Dentures need to be replaced after five years, because the shape of the mouth changes when the jaw bone and gum ridges shrink.
People with dentures are advised to have regular check-up, especially when they experience problems when chewing, difficulty in speech, inflamed gums and any form of discomfort such as biting cheek.
Janet Nasiime, who wears dentures, says pronouncing certain words may require practice. “It helps to read out loud and repeat troublesome words. If your dentures make a ‘click’ sound when you talk, try to speak more slowly,†she advises.
If the dentures slip when you laugh, cough or speak loudly, reposition them by gently biting down and swallowing.
When eating with dentures, Nasiime advises users to avoid raw vegetables, fibrous meats and sticky foods for the first few months.
Start with foods cut into small pieces. Chew slowly using both sides of your mouth. As you get used to chewing, add other foods until you return to your normal diet.
When biting, avoid using the front teeth. It is advisable to use the canines (the pointed teeth) and the teeth just behind them. Do not pull or tear your food in a forward direction. You should push back as you bite.
LIKE the members of a football team, your teeth depend on each other to function. The whole set is needed for effective and comfortable chewing, clear speech and an attractive smile.
Howard Besigye, a dental prosthetist at Denture Care Centre in Kamwokya, says when one loses a tooth, the neighbouring teeth may tilt toward the empty space.
Sometimes the teeth in the opposite jaw also move up or down toward the space. As a result, the teeth lose their correct position, leading to serious dental problems.
“The pointed cusps of the teeth in one jaw may not fit into the depressions of the teeth in the other jaw,†explains Besigye. “Thus when the mouth is closed, it becomes difficult for one to find a comfortable resting position for the teeth.â€
He says people with such a problem may develop a habit of grinding their teeth, which can wear down the teeth, make them sore, causing gum problems and creating pain in the jaw joint.
“Chewing and other movements of the mouth puts stress on the teeth when they are not in the correct position. This not only push the teeth even farther out of line but can also cause the gum and bone that hold them in place to break down,†he says.
Teeth that are tipped or out of position are often hard to clean. Experts say they can trap plaque, which can cause tooth decay, gum disease and the loss of more teeth.
Using dentures
Missing teeth can be replaced by dentures.
Dentures help someone to eat and speak well in addition to maintaining the shape of the mouth. They are available in most pharmacies and cost between sh60,000 and sh1m depending on whether it is a partial or a complete denture.
Like natural teeth, dentures must be brushed daily to remove food deposits and plaque. It is best to use a brush designed for cleaning them.
Dentures need to be replaced after five years, because the shape of the mouth changes when the jaw bone and gum ridges shrink.
People with dentures are advised to have regular check-up, especially when they experience problems when chewing, difficulty in speech, inflamed gums and any form of discomfort such as biting cheek.
Janet Nasiime, who wears dentures, says pronouncing certain words may require practice. “It helps to read out loud and repeat troublesome words. If your dentures make a ‘click’ sound when you talk, try to speak more slowly,†she advises.
If the dentures slip when you laugh, cough or speak loudly, reposition them by gently biting down and swallowing.
When eating with dentures, Nasiime advises users to avoid raw vegetables, fibrous meats and sticky foods for the first few months.
Start with foods cut into small pieces. Chew slowly using both sides of your mouth. As you get used to chewing, add other foods until you return to your normal diet.
When biting, avoid using the front teeth. It is advisable to use the canines (the pointed teeth) and the teeth just behind them. Do not pull or tear your food in a forward direction. You should push back as you bite.