Two of life’s greatest pleasures are eating and talking with loved ones. However, if you have recently received dentures, then you might be apprehensive about your confidence in doing these things due to the stigma that often accompanies dentures. Many people think their dentures are going to fall out while they are eating or talking just like they do in movies and comedy sketches. Well, Florence, SC dentist Dr. Griffin has good news for you; that is just TV, and as we all know, much of what happens on TV and movies never happens in real life. In any case, the staff here at the Advanced Dental Center has decided to put together a list of tips and tricks for people that are new to dentures.
Despite the fact that dentures can actually improve your life substantially, any kind of change can be initially challenging for a person to become accustomed to. Yes, it is true that you will find the activities of eating and speaking with dentures a little more difficult at first, you will soon become accustomed to it. Just like the way eating can be a little challenging for a teenager who has recently gotten braces. It is no different.
During the first few days of wearing your new dentures the best thing to do is accept that you are going to have to adjust your eating habits initially until you get used to them. This can easily be done with some increased patience and choosing to eat foods that are easy to chew and swallow. Consider the following foods for instance;
- Fish
- Cooked vegetables
- Eggs
- Yogurt
- Ice Cream
When you are new to dentures you should also try to take smaller bites than normal, and try to avoid biting down hard, especially with your front teeth. Also try and avoid foods that are sticky or excessively chewy in nature like caramel candies.
However, once you have gotten used to your dentures, this can from anywhere from two to three weeks, you are most likely going to find that eating has become east again. When this happens you can introduce more food items back into your diet, at your own discretion of course. When trying to re-incorporate firmer and chewier foods back into your diet Dr. Griffin suggests you use a zinc-free adhesive for your dentures. Doing so will form a protective barrier that will help prevent small seeds and other food particles from getting caught in your dentures and irritating your gums.
When it comes to speaking, you may find that certain sound will be harder to produce than others at first. Words containing “S” and “F” sounds are among the vernacular which you might find challenging in your first few days as a new denture wearer. To get used to speaking with dentures more quickly, Dr. Griffin suggest you practice speaking in front of a mirror when you are alone. This will help you learn to speak around your new dentures and regain confidence in your ability to speak clearly.
We hope these hints have helped you find a way to get used to your dentures more swiftly.
Until next time readers, keep smiling.