Not Gaga About the Goo: What to do About the Adhesive Goo on Your Dentures and Gums
Millions of people around the world suffer from missing teeth and wear dentures as a solution. Unlike your natural teeth, dentures usually require an adhesive to keep them in place, otherwise you might just find your dentures get you into all sorts of embarrassing situations. Gravity and your upper dentures will often conspire against you, popping out whilst you are eating or talking, and your lower dentures often come loose due to contact with foods and liquids. Basically everyone struggles at first to get used to wearing dentures; however, eventually every denture-wearer finds an adhesive and a cleaning solution that works for them. Here are some tips on what you can do to fight adhesive goo.
A Denture Bath
For some denture-wearers, powder doesn't always work to keep their dentures in place. This means either using a combination of dental glue and powder or just dental glue. Whatever brand you choose, there will always be the problem of residual goo leftover on your dentures at the end of the day.
Scrubbing at your dentures can damage them. Don't do that. Instead, soak your dentures in a denture bath. First, fill a bowl with hot water, then add a cleanser tablet, such as those provided by Polident or Scope. Leave your dentures to soak overnight in this solution and by morning your dentures should be goo-free.
Vinegar Bath
Research has shown that undiluted vinegar has anti-infective properties and is also great for cleaning dentures. Soak your dentures overnight in equal parts water and vinegar. The acid will dissolve any tartar or goo residue on your dentures while inhibiting the growth of fungus, leaving them goo and germ-free.
For Your Gums and Remaining Teeth
For many denture-wearers it's the goo that remains on their gums and teeth afterwards that drives them up the wall. It can be extremely difficult to remove. However, never use your finger nails or other rough implements to remove the goo. You may damage your gums, and your fingernails often harbour harmful bacteria that you don't want to put anywhere near your mouth.
The most effective way of removing the goo from your gums is to use warm water, as this is safe and the warm water effectively dissolves any leftover adhesive residue. Invest in several washcloths, one for each night. Each night, soak a washcloth in warm water and use this to gently wipe the goo from your gums. Once you have finished, you can also brush your gums with warm water to reach the places you may have missed with the cloth. Dissolve some salt in warm water and use this to brush your gums.
These methods should serve as an effective way of keeping adhesive goo at bay. However, if you prefer a longer term solution, you should speak to your dentist about the possibility of using implant dentures instead. Implant-supported dentures do not require any adhesive and are more comfortable overall. Talk to your dentist to see if you are a good candidate for implant dentures.
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