[pct-l] 'Falsie's'---teeth, that is.....

[AsABat]

Since I haven't seen any responses to your question yet: While I don't
have dentures (yet!), I do wear contacts. It's just something to be
dealt with, so find a way to deal with it. It seems to me keeping the
gums clean would be important for a good denture fit. A small toothbrush
doesn't weight much. I use a mixture of salt and baking soda rather than
toothpaste as toothpaste is messy if it leaks in the pack. 
 
As for granola, know what you can eat a don't bring the stuff you can't.
I normally stay away from sticky candies as they can pull dental work
out. One night I gave in and stuffed my mouth with something like
jujubes just before bed. The third chew pulled a crown off. Ooops.
 
For contacts (and these have been discussed here several times) I carry
a small bottle of combination cleaner/conditioner. I try to remove them
early in the evening while I'm not so tired, and take care to use a
flashlight so I don't lose them in my sleeping bag. Cleaning the hands
(Purell?) before putting them in is important too. Maybe something here
will help you.
 
I'm sure we have others with this issue out there. Hopefully they'll
jump in.
 
AsABat
 
-----Original Message-----


I wear a full set of dentures. Just how does one take care of dentures
while doing a thru-hike or even section hiking? They require a tad more
work in keeping them clean and secure in your mouth; tis a tad hard to
eat granola, etc, with these falsie's. In my past younger life; when
camping and day hiking...I had teef. I could go days without brushing;
quick rinse of the mouth with camp water...no problem. I could eat
granola and/or just about anything. When I got the dentures, we were
living aboard our sailboat. Living aboard a sailboat and while cruising
SoCa and the San Juans; I had access to running water, hot water, marina
bathrooms, etc, and I learned what I could eat and what I couldn't,
(definitely the down side to wearing them) besides tricks for taking
care of them. Talk about a major adjustment, but well worth the new
smile...LOL. 
 
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