So, you’ve been missing teeth for a while, but you’ve finally made the investment in a beautiful pair of dentures to restore your smile and give you back your confidence. You’re probably quite excited to show off your new pearly whites and get back to eating solid foods again.
But unfortunately, even though you’ve got a fantastic new pair of dentures and can boast a beautiful new smile, it may take some time before you can resume your usual diet.
Many folks aren’t sure when they can return to eating solid food once they get dentures, so in this short article, we’re going to give you the guidelines so you can have a smooth transition into your brand-new set of teeth.
What Should You Expect With New Dentures?
The longer you have been missing your teeth, the more difficult it might be for you to adjust to your new dentures. Prosthetic teeth may not feel natural to you right away, and there are a few normal obstacles that you’ll likely have to overcome before you can use your dentures to their fullest potential.
Coordination
Dentures are a new part of your body, and it will likely take some time to get used to using them properly. Especially if you had few or no teeth before you got your dentures, your mouth has probably lost some of the muscle memory for chewing, and even the feeling of having a full set of teeth in your mouth may be strange.
Because of this, your dentures will likely feel uncomfortable at first. You may bite your cheeks frequently, salivate a lot, or even gag occasionally. Learning to use this new tool in your mouth just takes some practice.
But don’t worry; this adjustment period is totally normal. Your body learns quickly, and before long, you’ll have great coordination with your dentures and be able to use them well.
Sensitive Gums
It’s no secret that dentures anchor to or rest on your gums. But if you’ve never had dentures before, having a denture on your gums will likely be a bit uncomfortable for you. Your gums aren’t used to having an acrylic resin base attached to them.
Because of this, chewing right after you get your dentures might be a slightly painful experience. Your gums may feel a little raw, and they may get an abrasion or two.
Because of this, you’ll want to wait for a while after getting dentures before you start chewing solid food again. Let your gums get used to the dentures, and then you can start eating solid foods.
How Long Should You Wait Before Eating Solid Foods With Dentures?
As a general rule, you may be advised to wait three to four weeks before you start with solid foods. You may even need to wait a little bit longer if you had some tooth extractions just before you got your traditional dentures, or if you are still experiencing sore areas.
However, three to four weeks is generally enough time to get used to having dentures and build up some coordination.
How Can I Minimize the Dentures Adjustment Process?
There are plenty of things you can do during that three to four-week period to build up your strength and coordination so you can be ready for solid foods as quickly as possible. If you follow these tips, you’ll be back to eating those delicious foods you’ve been missing.
Start With Soft Foods
The best thing to do is ease your way into solid foods. Start off with some softer foods to build up your strength and coordination. Lean toward smoothies, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, and the like, then work your way up to pasta, fish, soft bread, and soft, cooked veggies like carrots.
Chew on Both Sides
It’s also a great idea to chew on both sides. Once you start chewing again, while your gums are still sensitive, it’s a good idea to spread the chewing throughout your mouth so that one side isn’t taking the full brunt of the pressure.
On top of that, chewing only on one side could cause your dentures to become dislodged or shift. But if you spread the burden, your dentures should stay in place like they’re meant to.
Try Small Pieces
When you do start integrating solid foods back into your diet, make sure that you’re cutting your food into smaller pieces. Use the fork to place the small pieces in the back of your mouth where the chewing teeth are, and you’ll have a much easier time getting used to dentures.
Have Patience
The most important thing is that you have patience. This adjustment period is a completely normal part of getting new dentures. There’s nothing like getting your teeth back, so keep pushing, keep wearing your dentures, and you’ll be ready to chew solid foods in no time.
Renew: Dentures That Make It Easier
Traditional dentures can become dislodged easily and often have to be secured with adhesive to your gums. That is part of what makes the learning curve more difficult. Learning how to keep them in place is the hardest part.
But with Renew anchored dentures, that problem becomes much less challenging. Our anchored dentures use dental implants to secure the denture to your gum, and we are the only provider of the innovative SureSNAP Stabilization System. Simply snap the denture to the implants, and you’ve got a secure denture that you don’t need to worry about shifting.
This makes learning how to use them easier. You can enjoy greater chewing power without worrying about shifting. And with Renew anchored dentures, your new teeth snap into place so they’re fixed when you need them, and removable when you want some extra cleaning.
For more information about anchored dentures and a free consultation, visit Renew and take the first step toward your brand-new smile.
Sources:
Can you eat with dentures? | Authority Dental
Eating with dentures: Tips to get you started | Teeth Wisdom