Natural Health: Dentures

Q.A male relative has loose dentures. He has tried to fix them but his dentist says the front of the upper gum has disappeared, and this is why the upper denture falls down. This causes difficulty for him in eating and speaking.

A. Dentures require assessment and readjustment. Because they are a hard and foreign object pressed into the mouth, they often irritate the gums, which can trigger ulcers and receding gums.

The upper plate is difficult to keep in place, because it naturally wants to fall down into the mouth. As a quick-fix, your relative can make a temporary liner using adhesive crème and powder. In a ramekin, mix the adhesive crème with the powder until it forms a putty-like ball (this shouldn’t be sticky).