Getting dentures can be a rather substantial change in your life. There are a number of things you’ll have to rethink and readjust to as you wear the new appliances that are designed to replace your natural teeth. One of the most significant will be your eating habits. But it’s important to understand that you will need take it slow as you first get acclimated to wearing your dentures. They may feel uncomfortable at first and you may feel and taste things differently than you used to before the dentures. To help you get accustomed to your new teeth, here are four tips to keep in mind as you learn to eat with your new dentures.
1. Learn to Bite
One of the things you’ll need to re-learn is how to bite down. Avoid using the front of your dentures as that could dislodge them from the gum, causing irritation and soreness as the appliance rubs against it. Try to bite using the canines or back teeth and do so carefully and slowly at first. The more deliberate you are as you get used to them, the less likely you will be to catch your cheek by mistake and allow the denture to remain attached firmly in place.
2. Chew Easy
In addition to biting carefully, you are going to need to chew deliberately as well. Don’t treat your dentures as if they were your natural teeth, you should be a little more cautious at first. Chewing your food too hard can result in the denture breaking, so you may want to start by eating softer foods until your mouth gets acclimated to using the dentures. As you get more comfortable you can take on harder food items.
3. Growing Acclimated
As you learn how to eat with your new dentures, you may be tempted to return to all of your normal eating habits. You will be able to do that eventually, but always keep in mind that these are not your natural teeth and have some vulnerability to them that actual teeth do not. That may include cutting out certain foods that you had always enjoyed in the past. But dentures come with some restrictions in that department as there are certain items you should avoid entirely.
4. Foods You Should Not Eat
Foods with bones or shells could result in the dentures getting cracked, sticky foods should also be cut out of your diet for their potentially damaging effects on the appliances. Small nuts and seeds could lead to discomfort as they can easily become lodged under the denture. It is also recommended that you avoid foods and drinks at extreme temperatures, such as coffee, which can stain your dentures as well.
