5 Things That You May Experience After Getting Your First Dentures

Dentures are a great tooth replacement option. Having missing teeth can lead to poor health and rob you of your beautiful smile. If you lose one or more teeth due to illness or injury, prosthetic teeth can restore your natural appearance and proper mouth function. You may have mixed feeling about getting new dentures. Whether you are uncertain or thrilled, there are a few things that all first-time denture-wearers experience. The following list is a compilation of what to expect and helpful tips to help ease the transition.

• Taking Better Care of Your Sore Gums and Getting Used to The New Dentures

Sores gums are common after implant placement. Dentists usually recommend a visit after 24 hours of surgery to inspect the treatment area and make any necessary adjustments. Never try to make any adjustments on your own. If the denture must be removed due to pain, it may be re-inserted at least 12 hours before any adjustments are made. Your dentist must determine the cause of soreness and uncover the pressure points before the prosthetic can be adjusted accordingly. Once the problem is solved, it may take some time to get used to the dentures.

• Proper Practice of Chewing with Dentures

It can be challenging to chew with new dentures. It can take 4–8 weeks to adjust to chewing food with prosthetic teeth. Therefore, patients are advised to start with soft foods and gradually shift to harder items as you get more comfortable with your dentures. In addition, try to chew on both sides of the mouth for more stability. Avoid using your front teeth, instead place food between teeth in the corners of your mouth. Biting with the front teeth will cause the denture to lift in the back.

• Eating Practice with Dentures

Eating with dentures is much different than chewing with missing teeth. The old way is gone, so you need to adjust to something new. Natural teeth allow you to grind through any food. You can chomp on a carrot or a hard apple without concern. Now that you wear dentures, you must change your approach. Carrots or apples (any hard fruit or vegetable) need to be cut into bite-sized pieces and carefully chewed. Also, there is no longer room to stuff your mouth. Every bite should be taken carefully.

• Speak with Your New Dentures

Once your new dentures are in place your voice may sound funny. Tongue movement changes with missing teeth, and you may pronounce words differently. With consistent practice, you can get your normal dialect back. Begin with more difficult words, say them aloud and listen to how you enunciate. Your tongue and brain will work together to get you back on track to clear speaking.

• Cleaning Your Dentures Regularly

Dentures require meticulous care to keep them in tip-top shape. They shouldn’t be cleaned with brushes and harsh agents. These are not natural teeth and can be damaged if treated as such. Dentists recommend brushing gently and soaking dentures overnight. Being careless with your new teeth may cost you!

Smile Confidently with Your New Dentures

Although you can never duplicate your natural teeth, dentures are a good option when you have missing teeth. Your smile is the first impression you make, and one that others tend to make lasting judgments upon. By replacing missing teeth, you can restore your self-confidence. There is no need to live in pain, with poor mouth function or bad teeth. Having a healthy, happy smile is worth the beginning discomfort.