How to Learn to Use Adhesives With Dentures

Dentures that shift or slip can be embarrassing and can make eating difficult. In fact, in a study published in the November 2003 Journal of American Dietetics, N.R. Sahyoun and E. Krall found evidence of a correlation between dietary deficiencies and those who believed their dentures were not fitted properly. Denture adhesives, while not necessary for everyone and while certainly not a replacement for proper denture adjustments and replacement when necessary, can help you manage minor slippage problems.

Things You'll Need

• Denture adhesive paste or powder

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Instructions

• 1

  Understand how dentures work. Moorland Dentistry describes the seal between the denture and the gum as the same as the seal between two panes of glass with a thin layer of water between them. The water holds the denture in place as long as there are no irregularities that allow air to enter.

  Patients who suffer from hypersalivation or dry mouth either oversaturate the area or fail to produce enough moisture to create the seal and thus often must use adhesives.

• 2

  Know your options. There are two types of denture adhesives available: powder and paste. Paste is more difficult to remove from dentures than powder.

  While some adhesives may hold for as long as 12 hours, the duration of the seal is dependent on a number of factors like the quantity of liquid in the mouth, either consumed or produced, and the amount of eating and talking you are doing.

  Adhesives usually last longer on upper dentures than on lower dentures, according to SimpleStepsDental.com.

• 3

  If you choose to use powdered adhesives, clean the denture with a soft brush and soap. Rinse it thoroughly and leave it wet--the moisture on the denture is what makes the powder stick.

  Sprinkle the powder over the entire contact area of the denture, then insert it in the mouth and hold it in place for a few seconds.

• 4

  If you choose to use paste adhesives, clean your dentures with a soft brush and soap. Apply paste to a wet or dry denture, although a wet denture is preferred.

  Dot the adhesive along the contact surface. The adhesive should not squirt out the sides when you press it into place. Experiment with quantity. Start with a small amount and increase it until you've achieved a comfortable seal.