Dentures are a good choice for anyone who is missing several teeth or who needs to have all their teeth extracted due to damage or decay. Someone with bone loss or other such conditions may not be a good candidate for dental implants, but dentures can typically be fitted for just about anyone, no matter their overall oral health. Before you decide on dentures for yourself, note a few myths and misconceptions about these appliances, and this can help you determine the best way to deal with your tooth loss.

They crack easily

Dentures are very durable, but they can crack and chip for the same reasons your real teeth might break! If you get into a car accident and hit your mouth on the car's dashboard, or get hit in the mouth while playing sports, your dentures might crack or chip. Dentures can also crack if you were to drop them onto a hard surface, such as the bathroom sink. 

It's often recommended that you set a towel over the sink benchtop while cleaning your dentures, to cushion them in case they slip out of your hands. You'll also want to remove your dentures before playing certain sports. If you take these simple precautions, your dentures should be protected from unexpected cracks and chips. 

They smell

As with your real teeth, dentures need to be cleaned regularly so that they don't hold germs, bacteria, food particles and other such debris that cause bad breath. You will also still need to clean the inside of your mouth after being fitted with dentures. However, if you care for your dentures as recommended and clean your tongue and gums every day, you shouldn't notice any problems with bad breath.

They rattle or move around

Dentures that are properly fitted should not move around in your mouth, and a small amount of adhesive can ensure that your dentures stay in place even while talking or eating. Dentures also shouldn't rattle or otherwise make noise. If you know someone with dentures that tend to shift, move out of position, or rattle, that person should have those dentures refitted and then use adhesive when wearing them. That person may also be purposely rattling their dentures. Whatever the case, you shouldn't worry about anyone else even noticing that you're wearing dentures, much less worry that they'll slide out of your mouth or make any type of sounds while in place.