What to Expect With Your New Dentures
While dentures help restore your smile’s appearance and the function of your missing natural teeth, it generally takes some time for most people to get used to their new prosthetic teeth. While dental prosthetics have come a long way since their historical origins, the human body generally takes time to acclimatize to any sort of new prosthetic addition.
ADJUSTING TO YOUR NEW DENTURES
Whether you’ve been fitted with partial or complete dentures at our Island Tower Dental practice, your mouth will experience a period of adjustment that may include some of the following, temporary inconveniences:
- Increased saliva production
- Changes in how some foods taste
- Denture slippage
- Sore jaw muscles, and tender spots in gums
- Potential difficulty speaking
- The sensation that your dentures are not conforming to the rest of your mouth
To help ease the transition of wearing dentures, try keeping them in place consistently despite any discomfort. Eating and speaking with your new dentures will feel different than it did with your original teeth. This difference will fade with time and practice. Keep in mind, your dentures may need a few adjustments during the first few months after fitting, as your mouth acclimates to them. Your underlying jaw bone structure continues to change over time, and your dentures will likely need an adjustment every couple of years to maintain optimal fit and comfort.
In the first few days with new dentures, start by eating soft foods that are cut into small portions. Bite them carefully, chew slowly and remember to chew using both sides of your mouth. As you get used to eating with your dentures, try food items with denser consistencies. Soon, you’ll be able to eat most everything you used to; however, some exceptionally hard, and sticky foods will need to be avoided permanently.
The feeling of your new dentures and increased saliva production will likely impact how you speak, but practice will make perfect. The more you practice talking with your dentures, whether while alone, or with family or close friends, the sooner your speaking ability and self-confidence about it will return.
HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR DENTURES AND CONTINUED ORAL HEALTH
You will find that dentures still accumulate plaque and tartar just like natural teeth, and are similarly prone to staining. Since your dentures are made of plastic, you cannot brush them with regular toothpaste or other standard oral health practices. It is important to clean your dentures with a toothbrush or denture brush and with denture cleaner. Dentures should also be soaked daily in a denture cleanser designed to eliminate debris, food particles and bacteria. When you are done with your daily cleansing, be sure to rinse them with water thoroughly before use.
Most dental professionals believe that dentures should be taken out of the mouth while sleeping, which helps give the gums time to recover from any soreness. It also serves as a good time for denture soaking. When not in your mouth, your dentures should always be kept in cleaner, or water.
Whether full or partial dentures, do not neglect the continued oral care of your mouth. Make sure you brush and floss any remaining teeth, and also brush your gums, tongue and cheeks to eliminate bacteria and reduce the chances of fungal infections.
YOUR CUSTOM DENTURES AT ISLAND TOWER DENTISTRY
The dental-care experts at Island Tower Dentistry have offered custom-made partial and complete dentures at their Marco Island, Florida offices for more than 25 years. To learn more about how the Island Tower team can help you replace missing teeth with dentures, or to address any other oral health concern, contact us today at 239-394-1004 to make an appointment!