New denture wearers are going to need to take things slow at first. Many of your routine behaviors will need to be readjusted as you get used to wearing dentures. Chief among those is the way you eat. You might not be able to eat some of the foods you normally enjoy until you get more comfortable with the denture appliances in your mouth. But over time you will begin to adapt to your new replacement teeth and you should be able to eat everything you enjoy once more.
1. Go Slow
When you are wearing your new dentures your mouth is going to need some time to grow accustomed to your new teeth. Your first instinct might be to chew as if you still had your natural teeth, but you must remain cognizant of the fact that they are not your actual teeth and chewing too hard or vigorously could result in cracking the dentures. So start out by eating softer foods and work your way up to the harder items later on.
2. Bite Cautiously
As you use your dentures be careful about biting down on your food. Start training yourself to bite with your canine or back teeth instead of at the front. This can help you avoid the irritation that can come from your dentures being displaced or coming loose from your gums. Biting carefully will also prevent you from nipping the interior of your cheek by mistake, which can be very painful.
3. Foods to Avoid
Once you get fully accustomed to your new dentures, you will find eating to be much easier. But that doesn’t mean you should no longer be cautious about your eating habits. There are some foods you may want to avoid altogether, such as any foods that have shells or bones as these could break the denture. Sticky foods like caramel or toffee are also dangerous for the dentures. Nuts and seeds can get wedged underneath the appliance, causing soreness to the mouth. Hot and cold temperatures are also not recommended and that includes coffee, which can stain your dentures over time anyway.
4. Cleaning Dentures
When it comes to cleaning, treat your dentures as if they were your real teeth. So brush them daily and thoroughly, take them out each night and place them in a cleaning solution so they don’t dry out. The important thing is to keep harmful bacteria away so that your mouth does not get infected from wearing your dentures.
