No one looks forward to wearing dentures, but for many older adults, they are a fact of life.

If you are not wearing dentures yet and want to avoid them as long as possible, take care of your current teeth. Did you know that flossing may be at least as important as brushing your teeth. Many people have to get dentures because they have good teeth but bad gums. If you have trouble managing dental floss, it now comes in pre-cut strips. There are also implements that can help you floss. You need to go in for dental check-ups once or twice a year. Times have changed since that dentist who hurt you when you were a child. Now you may get away pain-free and even get stereo headphones that play music so you don't have to listen to the drill. Worried about money? Many dentists have payment plans. New advances with dental implants and other technology may keep you away from dentures for a long time.

If you're already wearing dentures, you still have to take care of your mouth. You must keep your dentures and mouth clean, to prevent stained teeth, bad breath, and aching gums. Brush your entire dentures with a denture-care product once a day. Don't use regular toothpaste. If you have partial dentures, be especially careful to clean around the clasps. Brush your gums and tongue with a soft bristle toothbrush. If you have a tendency towards bad breath, you may want to put a little regular toothpaste on the brush. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water in the morning, after meals, and before bed. Put your dentures in water or cleaning solution at night.

New dentures can feel funny at first. Talk to your dentist about what to expect. How will you know if you're just getting used to them or if there is something wrong? Take it easy on new dentures at first and wait a while on the steak dinner.

Your dentures won't last forever, just like your glasses won't last forever. You need new glasses occasionally as your eyes change. You need new dentures occasionally as your jawbone and gums change. Never try to fix dentures yourself, as this may cause injuries to your mouth or jaw. Contact your dentist if you have any problems.

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