The adjustment period for new dentures brings the excitement of an enhanced smile, but it also requires patience and practice. Making the transition to wearing dentures full-time is a significant change that involves developing new eating, speaking, and dental hygiene practices.
Dentures are available at Smile Solutions in Pittsburg and the surrounding area. Our team can provide tips and support to help you adjust well to your new dentures. There are several different strategies to practice and try at home to make the change easier. Call us to learn more about our services or schedule an appointment.
Tips For Adjusting To New Dentures
When transitioning to dentures, patients should give themselves time to adjust. The new dentures may be uncomfortable at first and will likely require more adjusting. Following some simple tips can help patients stay healthy and to keep their mouths happy. It’s important to follow the recommendations on this page because it takes time to adjust to new dentures.
Patients can drink nutritional shakes while adjusting to their dentures to be sure to get vital nutrients. They should avoid sticky foods and foods that might get stuck in the teeth or under the dentures. Popcorn, corn on the cob, and nuts should be avoided while adjusting to new dentures. Patients may also want to avoid tough meats that require extensive chewing, such as pork chops, steak, or ribs.
- When transitioning to dentures, patients should give themselves time to adjust.
Dental Hygiene Routine Changes
When it comes to keeping your dentures and mouth clean, there are a few necessary dental hygiene routine changes. Patients must remove and clean their dentures and the area underneath the appliance every day. Simply soaking dentures is not enough. Patients must also brush their dentures to remove plaque and debris. However, people should never brush their dentures with toothpaste.
It is also crucial to rinse dentures after every time a patient eats. For both the dentures and the patient’s health, it is also important to remove dentures each night and soak them. This period of rest is important to let the gum tissues rest and give the mouth a break. Patients should always store their dentures in water or a denture solution, so they do not dry out.
- Patients must also brush their dentures to remove plaque and debris.
Expectations For The First 30 Days
During the 30-day adjustment period, patients should be gentle on their mouths and take their time adjusting to a new routine. New denture wearers should develop realistic expectations. While oral discomfort is normal and expected, dentures will start to feel more natural and comfortable over time. Increased salivation and sore spots on the mouth are also normal to experience during the first month of wearing new dentures.
While eating and speaking may feel foreign at first, practicing and having patience are key to the adjustment process. If there are still fit and comfort issues after a month, people should contact us for an adjustment appointment. After the first 30 days, people should be able to enjoy their everyday activities comfortably and confidently.
- During the 30-day adjustment period, patients should be gentle on their mouths and take their time with the new routine.
Adjusting Eating Practices
People with new dentures may also need to adjust their eating practices. We recommend starting with soft foods since chewing becomes more challenging when wearing dentures for the first time. People will have to learn how to chew without popping their dentures out of place, biting their tongues, or scraping their gums.
Once people are ready to move on to tougher foods, it is best to cut the food into small, bite-sized pieces that the back teeth can chew easily. Even once people get used to chewing, they should not chew with the front teeth since it can cause dentures to become unstuck in the back. It is also best to avoid sticky foods, hard items, or tough cuts of meat that may cause dentures to come loose or even damage them.
- People with new dentures may also need to adjust their eating practices.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Denture Terminology
The alveolar bone is the bone surrounding the root of the tooth that keeps the tooth in place.
A clasp is a device that holds a removable partial denture prosthesis to the teeth.
The denture base is the part of the denture that connects the artificial teeth with the soft tissue of the gums.
Edentulous is a term that applies to people who do not have any teeth.
Periodontal disease is a condition that causes inflammation of the gingival tissues and membrane of the teeth, leading to tooth loss without professional treatment.
Pontic is another term for an artificial tooth on a fixed partial denture.
Rebasing is the process of refitting a denture prosthesis by replacing the base material.
Reline is when a professional resurfaces the surface of the prosthesis with a new base material.
Resin and Acrylic are resinous materials that can be components in a denture base.
Stomatitis is the inflammation of the tissue that is underlying a denture that does not fit properly. It can also result from other oral health factors.