Chewing gum is a great little invention. It eases stress, freshens your breath, improves your cognitive functions, and most importantly, can be used to blow huge bubbles! No wonder you don’t want to give it up! One of the most common questions dentists get asked by new denture wearers is ‘can you chew gum with dentures?’ The good news is: yes, you can!
What kind of gum can you chew with dentures
Due to growing demand by denture wearers and people with more sensitive teeth, gum producers now have a number of softer varieties available on the market, as well as non-stick gum designed specifically with denture wearers in mind. These chewing gums are less sticky and have a neutral colour, to prevent your dentures from staining. If you’re a new denture wearer, we suggest that you begin by choosing a softer type of chewing gum, and that you chew it slowly and evenly in your mouth so you can gradually get comfortable chewing gum without worry.
Benefits of chewing gum
As a denture wearer, chewing gum can be especially beneficial to you for two reasons:
- on the one hand, it helps you practice biting and chewing
- on the other, it helps prevent the symptoms of dry mouth by stimulating saliva production.
Picking a chewing gum for dentures
Since your dentures can’t get cavities, you can practically chew any type of gum you wish. However, your natural teeth can still be affected by the amount of sugar present in regular chewing gums: Especially at risk are the teeth adjacent to your partial dentures. For this reason, we recommend picking a sugar-free chewing gum.
Nevertheless, identifying the brand that suits your particular denture the most is a matter of personal taste – try them all and find your own favourite!
How to remove chewing gum from dentures
Chewing gum can get tricky and sticky, especially if you need to remove it from dentures. You can remove chewing gum from dentures with the following steps:
- Remove as much of the gum as possible by hand.
- Soak the denture in warm vinegar to remove the residue.
- Clean the denture as normal.
Avoid using heat to get the gum off, as there may be thermoplastic elements that distort under high temperatures. If you want to remove gum, warm vinegar should help dissolve the chewing gum.
For a better chewing gum experience, consider using a denture adhesive! By using a denture adhesive like Fixodent, you can provide your denture or partial with a secure and strong hold, ensuring that they stay where they’re supposed to.
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