When you have lost some or all of your teeth due to age, disease or decay, it is time to choose a permanent alternative to help you chew food and speak without issue.
While dental implants are now becoming the standard option for younger people, if you are older, cannot afford implants or cannot have them due to a medical condition, then you will probably be offered a partial or full set of dentures.
Dating back to ancient Egypt, dentures are a set of prosthetic teeth which are fitted to sit over your gums and are held in place with a dental adhesive. Indeed, these prosthetics are commonplace in dental surgeries such as Spa Dental and can be created to fit your mouth in as little as 2 weeks. However, while having your new dentures fitted is likely to give you an extreme confidence boost and allow you to smile like a Cheshire cat, they can take some getting used to as well.
So, how do you adjust to a new set of dentures? Here are some tips to help you!
Soft foods
While your mouth adjusts to your new dentures, it is important to treat it with some much needed TLC.
Many surgeries, such as Spa Dental advise those who are new to wearing dentures to eat only soft (but healthy) foods for the first few weeks as their dentures settle. When you start to eat soft foods, cut them into smaller chunks and chew slowly to avoid stress on your gums.
Periodic removal
Removing your dentures periodically is also recommended by dentists such as Spa Dental by Sydney. For the first week, remove your dentures every 4 hours, to give your gums, jaw and mouth a rest. Once again, this will prevent irritation in your gums and will allow you to rest your facial muscles. Provided your dentures are fully removable, take them out at night and place them in a glass of mild cleaning solution or water.
Sing!
As odd as it may sound, singing as you adjust to dentures allows your tongue and cheeks to adjust to the dentures in your mouth. Once you feel comfortable, try reading a book out loud to allow your facial muscles to become accustomed to your new teeth without singing.
Of course, it is advisable to sing within your home!
Try different adhesives
As your dentures are not supported by an implant or a bridge, it is advisable to search for a high-quality adhesive, it really can make all the difference!
Experiment with different brands until you find the one most suited to you and ask your dentist for their personal recommendation.
Maintain good oral hygiene
When you have no natural teeth, it is easy to overlook oral hygiene.
However, in the first weeks of wearing dentures, you will need to wash and brush your gums (and any natural teeth) daily and use an alcohol-based mouthwash to maintain good hygiene.
DISCLAIMER
All dental treatments carry potential risks. Contact your local dental team for more information about the procedures and advice that is mentioned in this article.
