Any kind of change in your life takes some getting used to, so having an entirely new set of teeth fitted is bound to come with an adjustment period. We want to make your new dentures as comfortable as possible, so we’ve got a few tips that will help you adjust to dentures or partials faster.
Eat manageable food
When you first get a set of dentures fitted, eating can be a challenge. In these early days, the best way to help you through this is to avoid hard or chewy foods. Soft or liquidized foods, such as soup and mashed potato, are much more manageable. Taking smaller bites of whatever you’re eating also helps.
Watch how you eat
As well as eating the right things, eating in the right way can also help you to break in your dentures evenly and more comfortably. Using both sides of your dentures to chew foods will help them remain balanced in your mouth. Biting into foods, like we would often do with our front teeth, is better done with the back teeth of your new dentures to start with.
Rinse warm salt water
Many people get some pain and soreness when they first have dentures fitted, especially if they had any teeth extracted first. This should pass within a couple of weeks. To help with the pain in the meantime, rinsing your mouth with warm salt water is a big help.
Practice speaking
Talking might feel unusual or uncomfortable when your new dentures are fitted, so you should practice on a regular basis until you get your confidence back. Reading out loud to yourself or singing along to your favorite songs are good ways to get used to talking with the new dentures in your mouth.
Exercise your face
The facial muscles around your mouth control how you chew foods, talk, and how well the dentures sit in your mouth. Exercising these muscles, especially the cheek muscles, can help your dentures to fit more comfortably and speed up the adjustment process. Try out the following facial exercises.
Dental creams
If your dentures aren’t fitting right or if they keep slipping out, they may need some adjustments, so see your dentist for their opinion. Dental creams and adhesives can make a big difference in these early stages while you get used to the new dentures, helping them to stay in place properly.
The most important thing is to be patient while you get used to your new dentures. Some pain, difficulty speaking and eating, and increased salivation are all common in the first couple of weeks, but most denture patients feel their usual self again after a month.
If you need a consultation for your new dentures or are in need of new dentures, then we can help. We serve areas around Clemmons, Lewisville, Mocksville, Winston Salem, Advance, and Bermuda.