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Whether you already have a set of dentures or you’re just interested in dentures in Lakewood, you may have some questions about these dental prostheses. Can they cause headaches and other common issues like dry mouth or thrush? Get the answers you need from the team at Lakewood Smiles Dentistry.
Yes. If your dentures have not been fitted properly to your gums, they can cause headaches. If your new teeth don’t fit together correctly and cause an unhealthy bite, this can put a lot of stress on the joints and muscles in your face, such as the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
In turn, this can cause headaches and other symptoms such as pain when chewing, ear pain, and much more. To ensure you avoid headaches caused by dentures, you must work with a dentist like Dr. Nancy William or Dr. Abraam Girgis to ensure that your dentures are fitted perfectly to your mouth.
Dentures do not cause dry mouth directly. Dry mouth, also known as “xerostomia,” is very common in older patients. As we age, our saliva flow naturally decreases. Dry mouth can also be caused by stress, dehydration, and nervousness.
In addition, decreased saliva flow is often a side effect of many medications including painkillers, antidepressants, sinus medications, and diuretics, to name just a few.
While it’s not caused by dentures, dry mouth can cause uncomfortable side effects, since moisture are required for your dentures to adhere to your gums properly. You may experience chafing and irritation of the gum tissue if you have dry mouth and dentures.
Yes, dentures can cause thrush. However, this usually only happens to patients who are not cleaning their dentures properly. Some conditions like dry mouth and diabetes can also contribute to a higher risk of developing thrush.
The best way to prevent thrush is to clean and soak your dentures regularly to destroy the fungi that are the underlying cause of the infection. Regular visits to Lakewood Smiles can also help keep your mouth clean and free of thrush.
No. Dentures do not cause acid reflux. In fact, they can help prevent acid reflux by allowing you to chew food properly. Patients with acid reflux may notice more symptoms when they are not able to chew their food properly due to missing teeth.
Bigger pieces of food require more stomach acid to digest, which can make the symptoms of acid reflux worse. But with a set of perfectly-fitted dentures, patients will be able to chew their food properly and minimize the effects of acid reflux.
Whether you’re getting your first set of dentures, or you’re interested in replacing an old, poorly-fitted or worn-down set of dentures, Dr. Nancy William and Dr. Abraam Girgis can help. To schedule a denture fitting, just contact us at (562) 866-0406, or stop by our office at 5220 Clark Ave, Suite 435, Lakewood, CA 90712.
