According to the American College of Prosthodontics, approximately 40 million adults are missing all of their teeth; this is quite a large figure! But fortunately, solutions like dentures are effective when it comes to replacing those missing pearly whites and giving patients a chance to smile brightly and fully enjoy food once more. That said, many patients still encounter a bit of a learning curve when it comes to getting used to eating with them. Here are five tips from your dentist in Jacksonville to help you adjust to eating with your dentures.
Tip #1: Start with Soft Foods
If you’ve just gotten dentures, you probably can’t wait to get back to enjoying all your favorite foods. But you shouldn’t rush into things; start slowly and stick to a soft-food diet at first, to give yourself time to acclimate to your dentures. This also lowers the chance of you hurting yourself or damaging your dentures! Stick to soft foods like applesauce, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, pudding, smoothies, and more. Also avoid sticky foods—these can dislodge your dentures!
Tip #2: Avoid Spicy Ingredients
Your gums will probably feel a little sensitive after you begin wearing dentures, so you should also avoid spicy foods and ingredients to avoid further irritation. This sensitivity shouldn’t last for very long, but in the meantime, avoid anything that could further upset your gums including hot sauce, red pepper flakes, and other spices.
Tip #3: Watch the Heat, Literally
Your dentures have an insulating effect on your mouth, meaning that you won’t be able to gauge temperature quite as accurately while you’re wearing them. That said, you should be extra careful when eating hot foods and test the temperature carefully. High temperatures won’t just burn your mouth; they will also affect the suction and stability of your dentures!
Tip #4: Chew Carefully
Some people favor one side of their mouth when they’re chewing, but you should avoid doing this if you’ve just received dentures. Instead, you should try to chew on both sides of your mouth so that there’s an even distribution of pressure across your dentures, ensuring that they stay in place and function properly without causing you any discomfort.
Tip #5: Have Patience
It’ll take some time to get used to wearing your dentures and eating with them, so measure your expectations and don’t expect to be an expert right off the bat. It could take several days or even weeks of practice to become fully comfortable eating with them. But if the progress feels slow, don’t rush, or attempt to exceed your pace; you will get there in time!
If you’ve just started wearing dentures and are feeling frustrated whenever it’s time to eat, don’t fret! Follow these five tips and give it some time: you’ll be back to enjoying your favorite foods soon enough.
About the Author
Dr. Richard Carlson has proudly served patients and families in the Jacksonville area for over 35 years! Dr. Carlson received his dental doctorate from the University of Florida College of Dentistry and is a member of several professional organizations including the American Dental Association, the Florida Dental Association, and the renowned Academy of General Dentistry. His practice is pleased to offer many available services including dentures. If you have any questions about dentures or would like to schedule a visit, feel free to reach out online or by phone: (904) 262-8409.