Living With Dentures – Adjusting To Life With Dentures
If you are new to false teeth, you have likely been told that there will be a period of adjustment you are going to experience. For some, it is tough and for others, it is not. It depends a lot on how prepared you are and what you know about dentures that will help you ease through this period of getting used to having these foreign objects in your mouth.
In this article, we will cover several key points of consideration while getting used to false teeth.
Getting Used To living With Dentures
Of course, it will take some time to adjust to life with dentures. Below are some of the more common things people experience, and some tips to help you through this period…
Pain In The Mouth
Living with dentures is easy once you get past the adjustment phase. One of the first things you may experience is mouth pain. This is generally a result of the dentures rubbing against your gums, palate, cheeks, and your tongue.
The pain can get to the point where you think the best way to deal with it is to alter the amount of time you wear them. For some people, it may mean taking them out so that the irritation does not worsen and giving your mouth a rest. This can be a problem for lots of reasons, including you can’t eat or talk properly, and your mouth is not getting used to wearing them.
This may be a bigger problem for individuals adjusting to wearing dentures at a young age since people are often self-conscious when they don’t have their dentures in place.
For other people wearing dentures, it means pushing through and keeping them in place for extended periods so that you can minimize the time of denture adjustment. The problem with that is the longer you wear false teeth in the beginning, the more mouth pain you may experience. That can be because of sores that develop and become infected.
Be sure to discuss the issues with your dentist and follow the instructions regarding how long to wear your false teeth. And remember to keep your dentures clean.
Practice Your Normal Routine
You’ve heard the saying that practice makes perfect, right? Well, there is a lot of common sense to that statement. It can also be applied to false teeth. The more you wear them and practice such things as eating, smiling, and talking, the better you are going to get at doing each of these things.
It may sound odd that you essentially have to re-learn how to eat, speak, and smile, but you have to remember that dentures are a removable appliance that is not natural for the body to have in it. This is why there is an adjustment period required to get your mind and body used to this new thing.
It means that you will have to eat softer foods for a while. It means you will have to talk differently for a while. It means taking time to practice as practice will improve your skills.
Teeth That Move Around
Life with dentures can be challenging at first. One of the most challenging experiences is when the dental plates slip and slide inside of your mouth. They are not supposed to do this.
But there may be a time when they shift when you are talking or eating. This is why it is important to ease your way into getting used to wearing dentures. Once your mouth gets used to them sitting on your gum line and palate, they will feel normal.
Regardless of your circumstances, false teeth will eventually feel normal in your mouth given time, so patience is required.
Follow The Instructions
It has already been mentioned once, but it bears mentioning again. Your oral health care team will have gone over some points with you regarding your dentures. They may have given you things including a collection of printed material to review. The goal of this is to help you with your transition to wearing dentures, so please make sure that you read and understand all the material provided to you.
Your oral health team would have provided you with detailed instructions on the care of your false teeth and tips and tricks on how to make getting used to them easier and quicker. By following this information, you make it easier on yourself. However, if you do encounter a problem or require clarification on something, do not hesitate to contact your dentist for assistance.
Living With Dentures FAQs
Here are a few answers to some frequently asked questions regarding what to expect and life with dentures.
How Will I Look With Dentures?
If you were missing teeth before you got your dentures, then false teeth will do wonders for your facial appearance. Not only do sunken cheeks disappear, but your smile will be improved to the point where you will share it more often.
If you were not missing any teeth prior to dentures, then your new false teeth should look as good if not better than your original teeth.
With a perfect smile resulting from a properly fitting set of dentures, your self-confidence will be boosted which will also improve your looks.
Do Dentures Change Your Face?
Dentures will fill in sunken cheeks and highlight your smile. If you didn’t have a good smile before, false teeth can improve that to where you may find yourself smiling for no reason and it won’t matter.
Can You Sleep With Dentures In Your Mouth?
Dentures are removable and are designed to be removed each night. They are not meant to be worn while sleeping for various reasons. They can become dislodged and cause problems with breathing and sleeping. They can fall out of the mouth and risk getting damaged. Dentures must remain moist and this is why they should be left in a cleaning solution overnight.
Also, by removing dentures at night, you eliminate the potential of bacteria growth within your mouth, and it gives your gums a chance to rest.
Are Dentures Bad?
Dentures are far from bad. They may take some getting used to, but living with dentures will allow you to eat better, speak clearly, and smile with confidence.
Will I Be Able To Eat Anything With Dentures?
Sticky foods and hard-to-bite and chew foods may be difficult to eat when you first start wearing dentures. This is because these types of foods can pull the denture out of place. Some foods you may end up having to avoid altogether once you start wearing false teeth. However, there are not many foods to avoid with dentures and your diet will not change much at all once you are accustomed to wearing dentures.
In Conclusion
Dentures take a period of adjustment. During that time, it is advisable to be patient and do whatever is necessary to get used to the new appliances in your mouth. If you still have difficulty wearing dentures after a reasonable amount of time has passed, contact your dentist.
If you are having ongoing or bad pain, then there may be something far more serious to be remedied that may be causing the problem. Otherwise, once you are comfortable with living with dentures, you will likely be pleased with how they make you look and feel about yourself. If you need dentures, contact your oral health care team today to book your appointment.
