They may look great but can feel uncomfortable for several weeks as you get used to them. Plus, as you produce more saliva during this adjustment period, the denture might slip around. And this movement might cause a few sore spots to develop. As you might guess, none of these realities make eating a mindless joy.
While every person's experience can be different, it generally takes an average of 30 days to adjust to eating with new dentures. Some level of discomfort is normal and expected in the beginning, so be patient and give your jaw and gums the time they need to heal.
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.
Your gums may be sensitive for the first few days, so it's a good idea not to strain them too much. Going for liquids and soft foods will give them the time they need to adapt to your new dentures. Choose food that doesn't need chewing like: Mashed potatoes or other vegetables.
Following a healthy diet requires the ability to chew your food, which isn't easy if you've just been fitted with dentures. But with time and a little patience, you should be able to chew and eat normally in a few weeks.
Tips for Eating with Dentures
Chew half of the food in your mouth on the back-left side of your mouth and the other half on the back-right side. This will even out the pressure on your dentures. Start with soft foods. Some good examples are eggs, fish, chopped meat, cooked vegetables, and puddings.
As a result, you should wear them for around 8 hours a day. It's generally recommended to take them out when you go to bed, but you also shouldn't eat with your dentures in the beginning. Your gums might be a bit sore, and adding extra pressure during chewing will only make the discomfort worse.
For the first few days, you should only wear your dentures for a few hours at a time. Gradually increase the amount of time you wear them until you are comfortable wearing them all day. It is important to remove your dentures at night to give your gums a chance to rest.
Day 1: Start by eating soft foods like mashed potatoes, puddings, and ice cream that are gentle on your gums. Many first-time denture wearers say eating soft foods that are gentle on your gums and teeth make the adjustment to dentures easier.
Try not to use front teeth for biting the burger. Try to have small pieces; it is better to cut small pieces with a knife and then put them in your mouth. Try to chew slowly and from both sides of your mouth. Remove crunchy vegetables if present in the burger as it might damage the dentures.
In most cases, well-fitted and well-maintained dentures do not need adhesive. Even when fitted by a competent and experienced dentist, many people feel more secure with the added safety net of an adhesive, which provides additional stability and enhances their ability to bite into certain foods.
When a patient first gets dentures, it can take up to 30 days to get used to wearing the denture. During this time, patients may struggle with learning how to chew and speak with their new teeth, as well as experience soreness and pain on their gums from the denture.
If you are not wearing your dentures on a daily basis, your gums will not be given enough time to experience the pressure and essentially will not become used to it. It is unfortunately one of those situations where you may need to endure some temporary discomfort to ensure ease at a later stage.
Most types of dentures need to stay moist to keep their shape. Place the dentures in water or a mild denture-soaking solution overnight. Check with your dentist about properly storing your dentures overnight. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on cleaning and soaking solutions.
Steradent is a good cleaning product to use if you follow the manufacturer's guidelines. But, remember that soaking your dentures in Steradent overnight isn't recommended.
Using Polident 3 Minute Daily Cleanser
Drop one Polident Daily Cleanser tablet into enough very warm (not hot) water to cover the partial/denture. After soaking for 3-5 minutes, or overnight if you prefer, brush partial/denture with the solution using a soft denture brush.
As a new denture wearer, you'll need to adjust how you eat in the first week, especially that first day with dentures, as the extraction site will be sore and you'll be learning how to bite and chew with dentures. Cold foods can be very soothing for sore gums.
Items like toothpicks or dental scrapers are not recommended to use on dentures since they can easily slip and damage your mouth tissue. Avoid Abrasive Cleaning Materials. Avoid brushes with stiff bristles, harsh toothpaste, or strong cleansers, as these could damage your dentures. Forget about Whitening Toothpastes.
Acidic juices
Some individuals enjoy a glass or two of juice at breakfast, but those trying out new dentures may want to pass up this ritual. Orange, tomato, grape, and apple juices all have a high level of acidity, which may irritate healing gums.
Make sure you're chewing straight up and down, not with a side-to-side motion, which can dislodge your dentures. Also try to bite completely through handheld foods like sandwiches rather than relying on a tearing motion to separate the bite you want, which could dislodge your dentures.
If the gums under your top or bottom dentures hurt, chances are high something is wrong with the fit. Poor-fitting dentures tend to move around or apply extra pressure on some areas of your mouth, leading to sore gums and other issues.
While your dentures may never feel as comfortable as your natural teeth, they shouldn't cause any discomfort. If you notice jaw soreness, uneven pressure, or other discomfort, talk to your dentist or denturist.
By Day 30, Your Dentures Will Feel Like Natural Teeth
Thirty days after the dental procedure, most denture wearers will find that the eating process is a little more normal; they can eat most foods again, and chewing is more manageable.