Congratulations on restoring your beautiful smile with your new dentures! Although you are likely already enjoying the ability to once again show off your gorgeous grin, using your replacement teeth for everyday activities like eating may take a little getting used to. Here’s a primer for getting adjusted to your restorations, including how you can make chewing your favorite foods second nature with these powerful prosthetics!
Getting Used to Your New Smile: Why Eating with Dentures Takes Some Practice
Although they may look and feel like real teeth, dentures aren’t quite the same as the pearly whites your body produces. Because they stay in place via natural suction, they are secure enough to enjoy a wide range of delicious, nutritious foods, but using them still may take some getting used to. That’s because dentures require you to use your facial muscles differently than you did with your real teeth, which may result in a bit of an adjustment period. Here are some helpful tips for making this process easier!
Take Your Time
While it’s understandable to be in a rush to start enjoying your new smile, don’t force yourself to, well, bite off more than you can chew. Start by eating a soft diet and gradually work your way up to harder foods as you get more comfortable. Be sure to take small bites and cut food into little pieces, and don’t forget to evenly distribute your food in your mouth when you chew.
Watch Your Bite
While you may have been able to bite into foods like crunchy apples and corn on the cob with your real front teeth, with dentures it’s much easier to do this with your canines instead. This is because applying a lot of force to the front of the restoration can cause your prosthetics to shift out of place, increasing your risk of gum irritation and denture sores.
Stay Out of Sticky Situations
While it’s true that your new dentures can help you enjoy a much wider range of foods than you may have been able to with missing teeth, there are still a few categories you should do your best to avoid. These include things like sticky or very hard foods such as gum, gummies, taffy, caramels, ice cubes, and hard candies, all of which can be both difficult to chew and may even damage your dentures!
Practice Makes Perfect
It can be easy to get discouraged with new dentures, especially if things don’t work or feel perfect when you first begin. The good news is that with time, it will become much easier, and eventually you’ll be able to expand your diet to harder foods. No matter what you do, however, don’t give up! The more you practice using your restorations, the more natural they’ll feel.
Remember, it can take several weeks or longer to get used to wearing and using your new dentures, but don’t give up. With a little practice and a bit of patience, you’ll have complete control of your new smile in no time!
About Our Practice
At Canyon Creek Family Dentistry of Richardson, our team wants to help make your smile a success! If you’re missing permanent teeth, it can be difficult to do everyday things like eating a full diet. Dentures can restore your gorgeous grin, including its appearance and function, so you can once again enjoy all your favorite foods. To learn more about these life-changing prosthetics and to see if you’re a good candidate for treatment, schedule a consultation with us by visiting our website or calling 972-644-3800.