Once you are fully adjusted to wearing dentures, you should be able to eat almost anything. However, there may be some foods that will always be difficult to eat, such as food that is hard, sticky, or tough. Even with a strong mouth and well-fitting dentures, there are some foods you may wish to banish from your diet.
Salty Snacks
If you find yourself craving something salty, remember that hard, sharp, or jagged pieces don't play nicely with dentures and can be uncomfortable if lodged in your mouth. Rather than reaching for chips or popcorn, lighter foods like crackers or vegetable sticks with dip are a better alternative.
Eating chocolate is fine for denture wearers, as long as it's free of nuts, toffee or other crunchy ingredients. Boiled, steamed or microwaved vegetables tend to have a softer texture. Cooked carrots, green beans, broccoli and spinach are all great options for your holiday meals this season.
As a general rule of thumb, dental professionals are likely to tell you that adjusting to new dentures takes about 30 days, on average. You might not be keen to wait this long, but you need to be careful how quickly you try to get back to normal.
Chewing or Speaking Difficulty
It takes practice to eat and converse with dentures. Dentures are less stable and prone to fall out of position since there isn't much gum or bone underneath to resist movement. In fact, chewing meals with new dentures can take up to 5 times longer.
Cleaning with a normal toothbrush and toothpaste can be abrasive and cause damages, leading to an increased chance of bacteria forming and a displeasing look to your dentures. Abrasive toothpaste can also increase stain adherence on dentures.
Generally you should wear your dentures for at least 8 hours a day. This will give your gums and jawbone time to get used to the dentures and prevent sore spots from developing. It is best to take them out at night so that your gums can rest. You should also remove them for eating, drinking, brushing and flossing.
Use a denture cleanser. (Conventional toothpaste, bleach, vinegar and soap are not designed for denture cleaning and could, in some cases, cause damage. Scratched dentures will harbor unsightly plaque bacteria, causing denture odor. Harsh products like bleach may even turn the pink parts of your dentures white.)
If you need to bite down on hard food, such as an apple, use your canines instead of your front teeth. Otherwise, you can cause your dentures to slip and slide around, hurting your gums. Make sure you distribute your food evenly on both sides in the back of your mouth when you chew.
A denture reline will help a denture work without adhesive so long as it matches the gums. How long a reline works depends on how fast or slow your bone changes.
Biting on the front teeth of a denture, especially into something as hard as a raw carrot, can put so much pressure on the front that the back of both dentures comes loose and the dentures “float” in your mouth.
In addition to taste buds getting weaker with age, wearing dentures can result in some flavor loss due to: The upper denture covering your upper-hard palate, which contains the taste buds. Food debris becoming stuck in your dentures and leaving an unpleasant taste. Overuse of denture adhesive.
The “labial” part of the name bilabial refers to your lips. If your dentures don't fit correctly, it can be difficult to bring your lips together to properly create these sounds. Additionally, if your dentures are loose, saying these sounds can dislodge them, which can result in a clicking sound.
Since dentures are delicate and can be easily damaged, it is recommended that you use a regular soft-bristled toothbrush to clean them, as these are considerably more gentle than electric toothbrushes.
You can use tap water or bottled water. Do not leave the dentures in the water for more than 12 hours.
Denture Adhesive Strips
This helps reduce slippage and provides a secure fit for up to 12 hours. To use denture adhesive strips, start by cleaning your dentures with tablets and make sure they are completely dry afterward.
Some of the most common problems with dentures are that: They tend to move in the mouth, especially while eating and/or talking. They collect and trap food which can lead to gums problems, decay and further tooth loss.
If your jaw or gums are unhealthy or weak, implants may not be an option. In this case, dentures are a better option for a full smile. With the improved look and feel of today's dentures, only the most astute observers will notice they're not real teeth.
The American Dental Association recommends you replace your dentures every 5-7 years for proper fit and appearance. Denture teeth can wear down and stain faster than natural teeth, and tissues in your mouth may change over time.
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.
It's normal to develop sore spots during the first few days of wearing dentures. You may also have more saliva. Gum tissue contracts as it heals. For this reason, you may need to visit our office several times so your dentures fit comfortably.
It may take some time to adjust to your new dentures, so a little irritation is perfectly normal. Poorly fitting dentures – ones that are loose or don't fit properly – can be the cause of dentures cutting into the gums or rubbing the gums. Fortunately it's something you can easily fix with the help of your dentist.