Receiving your permanent dentures is an exciting time. After all, these prosthetics will help you regain confidence and oral function after tooth loss. That being said, adjusting to dentures will take some time. As a rule of thumb, it will take about a month to get used to your dentures. While this might seem like a long time, some careful considerations to your daily life can help make this transition much easier.
Following are helpful tips for adjusting to your new teeth.
Expect Some Discomfort in the Beginning
It’s important to understand that your new dentures will produce some discomfort in the beginning. Dentures will put pressure on the gums and bone from their weight. It takes a few weeks for oral tissue to adapt to supporting your new teeth.
Avoid Aggressive Chewing and Hard/Crunchy Foods
It’s important to avoid aggressive chewing when you first get your dentures as it will place more pressure on the gums. We recommend taking very small bites of softer foods for the first few weeks you have your dentures.
Great meal options include soups, mashed vegetables, scrambled eggs, and smoothies. Be sure your food has plenty of protein and vitamins. If you choose soups, be mindful of their sodium content.
Don’t Use Your Front Teeth to Chew
When eating, it’s best to use your back teeth to chew. Chewing with your front teeth can dislodge your dentures from the back and lead to uncomfortable movement of your prosthetic teeth.
Avoid Sticky, Fibrous, and Chewy Foods
Some food items just don’t mix well with dentures. This includes tacky and sticky candies and tough items like beef jerky. Eating these foods can cause dentures to come loose and even crack or chip them.
If you have a habit of chewing on pen caps or ice cubes, now is the time to stop as these habits could break your new teeth, too.
Our practice offers beautiful and lifelike dentures to restore your smile. Call our team at Brend Dental today to reserve a tooth replacement consultation with our dentist.
