Strip Adhesives

These are a less well known type of denture adhesive which are a pre-packaged paste. They are available as a series of pre-glued strips hence the name ‘strip adhesives’ and provide a tight fit between denture and gums.

A denture strip is a colourless, odourless type of adhesive which does not flow out from the denture and can be peeled off when needed. This reduces the length of time cleaning your dentures as there is no messy glue or powder to rinse away. They are not water soluble so there is no risk of them being washed away by excess saliva.

They are ideally suited to new denture wearers and those people who only need a partial denture.

How do denture adhesive strips work?

They work in exactly the same way as the paste and powder denture adhesives in that they provide a barrier between the denture and the gums. This stops food debris from becoming trapped between these two which leads to a variety of problems.

A particular advantage of the strips is that they are less messy and ideal for wearers who have narrow gums and tend to salivate a great deal. One brand ” ‘Seabond’ also contains a breath fresher as well.

They also act as a comfy lining between the gums and the denture which means that you can wear your dentures for longer without pain or irritation. These strips do not cause any irritation in the mouth or gums and prevent the risk of mouth ulcers.

What you do need to be check is whether your dentures are suitable for strip adhesives. Some brands such as the ‘Seabond denture fixative’are only suitable for a particular type of denture, e.g. porcelain.

Note: if your dentures have been lined with a ‘soft liner’then you may find that these strips are less adhesive. They are better suited to a lower denture and one which has a hard base.