diving with false teeth

[Jim Baldwin]

Hello. I was in Hurghada, Egypt last week on a diving course and ran into what my dive instructor called a unique problem. I have a complete set of false teeth and the problem is that when I tried to hold the mouthpiece, my upper teeth would come lose and gag me so that I had to surface. They even came out in the pool when I tried to replace my regulator! What options do I have besides the U. S. Divers moldable moputhpiece? I am planning on going back to the Red Sea next week with a SeaCure mouthpiece. Will this solve the problem? Thanks for any and all serious replies.

Gerald,

I was in Panama City, Florida a couple of years ago on a diving vacation for a week and ran across a diver who had apparently been in an automobile accident. He had major reconstructive surgery on his face and had lost his teeth due to the accident.

He dove all week without any dentures. Try a long bite silicone mouthpiece. Check out ebay under the regulator section in diving I have long bites on all my regulators and they do make holding them much easier. They run about $15 for 4. The seacure mouthpiece also has a longer bite but may be too hard for your gums. You might also have to use a slightly shorter hose says a 22 inch instead of 26 which won't push on your mouth so much.

Hope this helps.
Jim
Louisiana