Denture Care

Care of your Dentures

Dentures and dental appliances such as bridges are tooth substitutes. They don’t have the advantage of being permanently fixed to your gums as do natural teeth, so greater care must be taken to prevent damage to both the dentures and to your gums.

Dentures are designed to be looked after in the same manner as your teeth – they should be brushed regularly after eating with a soft toothbrush and specific denture cleaners. These are designed to lengthen the life of your dentures by preventing scratching and wearing away the surface of the appliance. If it is not possible to brush your dentures after eating then rinsing them will help to remove any debris under the denture that may damage the gums.

Care must also be taken to prevent shocks such as dropping your dental appliances, so when cleaning them, put the plug in the basin so that if you drop your dentures then the fall will be cushioned by the water and they will not chip or break. Similarly, bleach shouldn’t be used on dentures as this may damage them and will whiten the pink area that the teeth are set into.

Dentures are not designed to ever be dry, so if not being worn do not stored them wrapped in a tissue as this may make them brittle and prone to damage. Keep them in a denture soak in a specifically designed denture bath or holder, changing the soaking solution regularly.

If your dentures don’t fit properly or are worn in places they may cause irritation to the gum surface that may result in pressure sores or mouth ulcers forming. If you have sore gums and your dentures rub that affects your enjoyment of and ability to eat good food, so needs prompt action to remedy this.

Your community pharmacist has products to allow you to keep your dentures clean and lengthen their life. Have a talk to them about the best products to maintain your dentures or dental appliances, and to ensure that any gum damage is promptly cared for to prevent further pain and soreness that results from ongoing abrasions from eating and drinking.

Your pharmacist will be able to advise you if you need to consult a dentist or doctor to assist you with any problems associated with your dentures, or be able to select and advise on the correct products to care for your dentures and for your optimum oral health.

Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)

Causes of swallowing difficulties

Swallowing difficulties can happen at any age. There are a wide range of causes for them, including:

some medicines, such as antipsychotics
heartburn and acid reflux
cancer, such as mouth or throat cancers
nervous system or brain disorders
muscle disorders
blockages or structural issues with your mouth, throat or oesophagus.

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties may include:

coughing or choking when eating or drinking
bringing food back up, may be through your nose
the feeling that food is stuck in your throat
having issues chewing your food
problems with dribbling.

Swallowing difficulties can cause weight loss, dehydration and chest infections.

Diagnosing swallowing difficulties

Let your healthcare provider know if you have swallowing difficulties. They will ask you about your symptoms and check if any other health conditions you have may be the cause.

Your healthcare provider may refer you to a specialist for tests. These may include a:

gastroscopy—a camera is passed down through your mouth to look at your throat and stomach
swallowing study—your throat and stomach are x-rayed as you swallow small amounts of food.

Treating swallowing difficulties

How your swallowing difficulties are treated depends on the cause and how severe it is. Treatments may include:

medicines to treat acid reflux
swallowing therapy with a speech and language therapist
making changes to what you eat and drink, such as softer foods and using thickener in drinks
using special spoons, plates and cups
surgery to widen your oesophagus.
using special medication lubricants eg Gloup to help make it easier to swallow tablets etc. For more information click here.

Self care for swallowing difficulties

As well as seeing your healthcare provider, the following tips may help you to get food or liquids into your stomach.

Sit upright in a chair—at a table is best.
Have regular small meals instead of the main large meals.
Eat or drink small mouthfuls at a time.
If your voice is gurgly when you eat or drink, give a small cough to make sure your airway is clear.
Wet food will be easier to swallow as dry food can catch in your throat.
If your food has 2 consistencies, such as fruit in juice and cereal in milk, try to mix it into 1 consistency, or eat the solid and liquid portions separately.
Concentrate on eating and avoid talking.
Hot, ice-cold or fizzy liquids are easier to swallow than room temperature liquids.
If you are told to have thickened liquids, avoid ice-cream and jelly as they thin before swallowing.
Drink from the top half of you cup to avoid tipping your head back.

Have a look at our range of Gloup medication lubricants here which can help with difficulties swallowing tablets...

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