Denture Glue
To begin, it should be stated that the term denture glue is somewhat incorrect, though that is what many people call it. Denture glue is actually denture adhesive, or more commonly called denture cream. Substituting the word glue, instead of the correct terms of adhesive or cream, may lead to the false assumption that it is alright to use common household glue to keep your dentures in place. This is not the case. The common non-toxic brands of household glue will do nothing to keep your dentures in place. Other types of glues sold may actually contain toxic substances and should never be placed in your mouth. The result of such action could be fatal. So please be aware that glue is incorrect, and from here on out, we will use the correct terms of adhesive or cream.
Denture adhesive is an over the counter product that may help increase the grip of your dentures. It is commonly used when the dentures begin to slip against the gums. This can lead to difficulty chewing and speaking, and may even lead to sore spots on the gums. Let's take a look at how it works.
A small amount of the denture cream is applied inside the inner ridge of the denture base, and the denture is then inserted into the mouth. When the denture cream comes into contact with your saliva, it becomes more of an elastic substance that forms a connective bond between your gums and denture. This gives the dentures the necessary added grip to provide the denture wearer with comfort and confidence.
Over time, a denture wearer's gums will begin to shrink and no longer conform to the original fit the denture was constructed for. In time, this will lead to a need to have the dentures relined. However, until the fit becomes too loose, denture cream can be used as a temporary aid to keep the dentures snugly in place.
Denture creams are usually designed to provide 12 continuous hours of grip. Saliva gradually dissolves the adhesives and allows it to release the denture from the gums. However, there may still be a good amount of suction left after this time period. You can help dissolve the bond by swishing warm water or mouthwash around in you mouth to further dilute the adhesive. If there is still a good amount of suction, you can try gently rocking the denture back and forth to further break the grip. Never use any utensil, or added force to remove the denture.
If all else fails and you don't mind, leave the denture in your mouth overnight and it should come out easily in the morning. Then, next time you use your denture cream, try adding a little less to the dentures and see if they are easier to remove that evening.
Learning the proper amount of denture adhesive to use is a process of trial and error.
