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HOW TO LIVE WITH DENTURES

Adjusting to New Dentures: 30 Days to Change Your Life for the Better.

Adjusting to dentures is all about patience. As millions of denture wearers around the world know, it makes sense to go for it one bite at a time, slowly and steadily. Here’s a month-long guide that shows you how to get used to your dentures:

Calendar guide for first time denture wearers

Day 1: Start by eating soft foods like mashed potatoes, puddings, and ice cream that are gentle on your gums. Many first-time denture wearers say eating soft foods that are gentle on your gums and teeth make the adjustment to dentures easier.

Day 2 to 14: Your mouth is adjusting to the new dentures; you will likely experience increased salivation. You might also experience sore spots in your mouth from the dentures. Rinsing your mouth with warm salt water might help. If soreness persists, return to your dentist for an adjustment. Expect a longer denture adjustment and healing time if you recently had teeth extracted or are a full-plate wearer.

Day 15 to 29: You’re learning to talk and eat all over again, and the good news is that salivation and sore spots have lessened. This is the best time to start using a denture adhesive to improve the fit and feel of your dentures. Using an adhesive will improve your confidence while eating and immediately improve the fit of your dentures.

Day 30: After about 30 days of denture wearing, you should be able to enjoy most of your favorite activities confidently. Remember to visit your prosthodontist on a regular basis to have your dentures checked. A denture replacement is usually recommended every 5 to 10 years.

At Any Point: If you’re continuing to experience discomfort during this 30-day adjustment period, please see your dentist, who can check the fit of your dentures. Expect a longer denture adjustment and healing time if you recently had teeth extracted or are a full-plate wearer.

EATING WITH DENTURES MEANS EATING WITH CONFIDENCE

It’s that simple. Eating is a big part of everyone’s social life. Did you know you can still enjoy your favorite foods while wearing dentures? Check out this helpful guide on how to start eating with your dentures:

In the beginning it helps to start with soft foods, such as eggs, fish, cooked vegetables, or oatmeal.

Don't panic if you feel that food has "lost its flavor." Right now, your mind is receiving strong signals from your mouth about your dentures, which overpower the messages from your taste buds. After you get accustomed to dentures, your mind will find a better balance and your sense of taste will improve.

As you adjust to new dentures, you might have trouble sensing hot foods and drinks. This is common. But be careful; you don't want to burn your mouth.

After you feel more confident, try eating chewier foods, such as fresh celery or broccoli.

As you move to firmer foods, begin with small quantities and cut foods into smaller pieces.

When you put food in your mouth, chew half of it on the back-left side of your mouth and the other half on the back-right side. This will even out the pressure on your dentures.

Biting and chewing often feel different than before. The fear of having your dentures slip during a meal can be enough to keep you away from restaurants altogether. Before you turn down that invitation to all-you-can-eat-ribs night, follow our tips for eating with full or partial dentures. With a little practice eating with dentures, and with patience, you should be able to enjoy almost any food you like. Using a denture adhesive can help you enjoy your food in two ways:

It keeps your dentures firmly in place.

It creates a seal that helps to prevent food particles from entering the area between dentures and gums.

With your dentures in place, you can start eating what you like, with whomever you like, confident that your dentures won’t let you down.

COMMON DENTURE PROBLEMS, COMMONLY RESOLVED

Here are five typical denture challenges and tips for overcoming them:

Too much saliva Your mouth is hosting a new foreign object so it’s normal for your salivary glands to work in overdrive. They’ll gradually adjust but in the meantime, try swallowing more, or enjoying a mint or hard candy.

Mouth sores and pain This is a very common problem occurring within hours of wearing dentures. Try rinsing your mouth with warm salt water, or you can benefit from a denture adhesive that will help prevent denture movement to reduce irritation and sore spots.

"Full-mouth" feeling: At the beginning of your denture experience, you might feel as if they are too big or that your lips are being pushed forward. Wear your dentures as much as possible so the muscles in your mouth “learn” how to keep them in place.

Slipping dentures moving around your mouth Your lip, cheek, and tongue muscles are fighting to push your dentures out of your mouth. Keep them in place with a denture adhesive.

Ill-fitting dentures Dentures rest on gum tissue and your jawbone, which deteriorate and shrink over time. If your dentures feel loose after some time, visit your dentist. Maybe it’s time for an adjustment or a new set of replacement dentures.