Breaking The Stigma Of Wearing Dentures

You find out that all of your teeth have to come out, and you are beside yourself. You feel like nobody around you can possibly understand what you are going through.

You aren't alone, there are 36 million Americans that do not have any teeth! In fact, partial tooth loss affects the majority of adult people in the United States.

There is nothing to be ashamed of!

Tooth Loss Can Happen To Anyone, At Any Age, For A Variety Of Reasons 

TOO YOUNG FOR DENTURES?

As a society we have placed a bad stigma on missing/broken teeth, especially amongst the younger generation. If we see someone that's not over 60 in dentures or with bad teeth, we automatically assume things.

 "Did you see that young girl's teeth? She must not have ever brushed them or I wonder if she is addicted to drugs?"

Not every person that has dentures at a young age has poor hygiene habits or drug issues. Statistics reveal that the average age of a new denture wearer is between 40-50 years old and it's often common for an older person to be missing teeth so it has always been socially acceptable. Dental care is expensive and not everyone can afford to go to the dentist. Some people with dentures in 20s or 30s haven't ever had access to a dentist.

Diabetes, smoking, a weak immune system, and poor oral hygiene all increase a person’s risk for gum disease. In fact, gum or periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss for all ages! It affects almost half or 46% of adults 30 years and older. (Gum disease is an inflammatory disease that affects the hard and soft structures that support the teeth.) 

Some of the other reasons people can lose their teeth can include: dental decay, oral trauma or injury, domestic violence, sports injuries, chronic illness like autoimmune disease, heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and bone disease, lifestyle factors, childhood neglect, grinding, and medication.

LOSING YOUR TEETH SHATTERS YOU MENTALLY 

Our smile is everything and one of the first things people see when they look at us. Losing multiple teeth or being told you have to have all of your teeth pulled is one of the most traumatic things a person can experience in their life. Nobody wants to lose their teeth. It affects your smile, the ability for you to chew your food effectively, your social life, career, mental health, and it requires extensive unpleasant dental work.

When your teeth are bad or missing you lose confidence, and it's very difficult to do your normal everyday activities. It's also hard to accept the changes to your facial structure due to tooth loss. We know the depression over losing teeth is very real, and the anger, stress, frustration, and anxiety over replacing lost teeth can be quite draining.

It Can Be An Emotional Struggle In This Journey

BUT MAYBE DENTURES AREN'T SO BAD AFTER ALL

Just hearing the word "dentures" can be scary due to the stigma that's been placed on them. A lot of the younger generation may be embarrassed by dentures.

Many young people often think, "Dentures are only for old people", so getting dentures at a young age or dentures in 20s or 30s can be frightening.

However, getting new teeth can be life changing, and the most cost effective and least invasive way to replace a set or multiple missing teeth. 90 percent of people without teeth have dentures (full and partial) making the total number of people in the U.S. in dentures 41 million.

Regular modern day hand-made dentures perform the functions of natural teeth and sometimes a better fitting, more comfortable set of teeth. You really can't put a price tag on getting your life back and being able to confidently talk, smile, and chew again.

Some of the other benefits of dentures include:

•  Restore your smile

•  Eliminate social awkwardness

•  Restore ability to eat without any restrictions

•  Make speaking easier

•  Replace support in your face

•  Help decrease the rate of bone loss

•  Easy to remove and clean

•  Can reduce further oral health issues

ADJUSTING TO LIFE WITH DENTURES TAKES TIME AND PATIENCE

It is a process; getting adequate support and knowing that one in five adults globally wear dentures and almost half or 45% of denture wearers are under the age of 60 is a confidence booster in itself. You really are not alone in this fight!

Some other confidence-boosting tips can include wearing your dentures as much as possible right off the bat so you become accustomed to the feel of them quicker. Practicing eating and speaking at home so you are comfortable when going out in public can help too. Also, you can try reading out loud at home so you learn how to speak more confidently.

Thanks to social media, individuals going through their own tooth loss and denture journeys are sharing their stories publicly online. Look to YouTube, Facebook, Tik Tok and other social media apps for support! Below is a video by "Life With Dentures Told by Tracy". Tracy is one of several denture vloggers on YouTube helping to break the stigma around denture wearers.

WE'RE HERE FOR YOU

Cushion Grip's Brand Ambassadors are on a mission to break the stigma and are willing to share their experiences and knowledge.

There is nothing wrong with wearing dentures. After all, it's just a prosthetic.

The Toothless Fairy - YouTube

Ashley's Denture Diary! PEACE. LOVE. SMILES.

AshMac :Dear Dentures and Implants - YouTube

She made this channel to document, educate, inspire, & encourage , in the hopes that she can help at least one person's journey towards dentures &/ or implants easier and less traumatic.

"When I first came to the realization that I would eventually be losing all of my teeth, the shame, embarrassment, & anxiety were all too much for me to handle, so much that I kind of became somewhat of a hermit. As time approached my E-day. (extractions day) I stumbled across an entire community of the nicest people, the YouTube denture family."