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Will dentures flush down the toilet?

By June 5, 2017November 30th, 2018Dentures

Will dentures flush down the toilet? I’m serious. That’s all these dentures are worth and I don’t want to see them again. I need to start all over. The denture center ripped me off. My gums hurt but the dentures are too loose. Does that make any sense? I just don’t want to cause any plumbing problems when I flush them. I want to be sure they will go straight to the sewer. To say I’m furious is an understatement. I only wear them when I have to leave the house and I’ve been staying in more than usual because of the frustration. Can I flush them straight down the toilet or do I have to go out and find a sewage drain to thrown them in? Malcom

Malcom – Your frustration is clear and understandable. But it’s not safe for your plumbing system to flush your dentures down the toilet. They would cause you even more trouble and money, and make you angrier. Before you throw your dentures out, we have a few questions you should consider.

  • How old are your dentures? – If they are new, don’t throw them out. They might need to be relined or remade. New oral appliances should have a warranty. If your dentures are more than five years old, depending on the quality, it might be time to replace them.
  • Did you purchase budget or high-quality dentures? – Were your dentures unusually inexpensive? If so, poor quality oral appliances don’t last long. If you received high-quality dentures, perhaps the bite is off, they need to be relined, or they should be remade.
  • What adjustments have been made to give them a better fit? – Have you taken the dentures back to the dental center? If not, ask for them to be examined, and describe the issues you are having. If they are still under warranty, they should be corrected with little or no cost to you.
  • When did you first start wearing dentures? – Depending on how long you’ve been wearing them, you might have experienced jawbone shrinkage. Bone shrinkage naturally occurs after many years of missing all of your teeth and wearing dentures. If that’s the case, it won’t be long before new dentures loosen. Implant overdentures will provide more stability and give you a better fit.

Before You Toss Your Dentures

Throwing your dentures away will leave you without a way to eat and speak correctly. Ensure you at least receive a temporary solution before you get rid of them altogether. Visit an experienced prosthodontist or implant dentist for an accurate assessment of what needs to be done to ensure you receive dentures that look natural and function well.

This post is sponsored by American board-certified prosthodontist and implant dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca of Naperville, IL.

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