Mistakes To Avoid When You First Start Wearing Dentures

Dentist Blog

If you have recently had your teeth pulled and have started the denture process, then you may be concerned about the initial wear period and how you will get used to your false teeth. This is an issue for many elderly individuals, and you may end up making some mistakes as you start to get used to your dentures. This is common, but you do want to avoid some serious wear mistakes, especially when you first begin wearing dentures. 

Mistake — Wearing Dentures Longer Than Instructed

When you go for your first denture fitting, your dentist will provide you with a good deal of information on how to best get used to your false teeth. You will need to get used to the feel and your mouth will also need to adapt to the dentures. Specifically, the bone ridge and your gum tissues will need to shift in response to the pressure of the teeth. 

Your gums will typically feel sore for some time. Soreness is caused by the swelling of the tissues and the way the false teeth rub against the gums. Some people want this soreness to dissipate as soon as possible, so they will wear their dentures longer than they are supposed to at first. This can cause some problems.

If you wear your dentures too much, you are likely to develop open sores on the gums. When the dentures are placed over the sores, bacteria are trapped next to the tissues. This can cause significant infection concerns. To prevent these sorts of issues, you will need to wear your dentures for about three to six hours each day to start. You should do this for a week or two. Small adjustments will typically be made by your dental professional after the initial wear period to make sure the dentures fit better once gum swelling reduces. You can then start to wear the dentures a bit more, until you can wear them full time. 

Mistake — Eating Soft Foods Only

Initial gum swelling is best controlled by eating soft foods, but your dentist will ask you to start eating hard and crunchy foods soon after the initial trial or wear period is over. You should start eating harder foods as soon as possible. This will allow you to get used to the way the dentures feel when you chew. It takes some practice, so start slowly. 

You should try some relatively hard foods that are easy to chew. Pasta, bananas, berries, tomatoes, and grapes are a few good choices. Bite and chew slowly. As you eat, make sure to move the food evenly around the mouth. This will help to keep the dentures from shifting or tipping as you chew.

Once you get used to the moderately hard foods, try eating some harder items like apples and corn. Slowly add new foods until you can eat normally once again. 

For additional information on dentures, contact a dentist like Tony Parsley, DMD.

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26 April 2017

Getting Your Toddler to the Dentist Once and For All

Toddlers should see a dentist for the first time by the age of twelve months or by the time their first tooth comes in. But if you are a parent with toddlers anything like mine, the prospect of going to the dentist (let alone anywhere!) can be pretty intimidating. My kids were a handful growing up. They had tantrums any time we would have to sit in a waiting room, and they refused to get in the dentist's chair during their first few visits. So, I had to employ a professional to help me make the transition to finally getting them in that dental chair without all the screaming and crying. I know I'm not the only parent in this situation, so I decided to share the information I've learned with others who can use a little help. You can find all my advice right here on these pages!