 | Learning
to wear a new denture can take time. Don't become discouraged if you find some
difficulty in the beginning. YOU'RE NOT ALONE! Please do not listen to friends who
tell you how easy it was for them to get used to their dentures and how they can eat
everything and anything. They are either bragging, have greater bone and gum support or
their memories may be poor. Your dentist will help you through any difficulties you may
face or any situations that may arise during your adjustment period. |
| A lower
denture usually takes more time to adjust to than an upper denture. The tongue may feel restricted and will
tend to play, sometimes even subconsciously, with the new prosthesis. It will soon adapt
to the restrictions and to the new feeling that a denture presents. |
| Try to eat
only soft foods for the first couple of days. Then, as you progress to more solid foods
try to eat slowly and deliberately, attempting to place even amounts of food on both sides
at the same time during the chewing cycle. By placing food on both sides of the mouth
at the same time, you balance the biting forces on the new denture and will help to make
it more stable. The longer you take to eat your meal, the faster you will learn to
master your new prosthesis. |
| Try to
take small bites at first. Cut all your food into small portions. If, and when, your gum
tissues are strong enough to try foods which are bitten off (bread, corn on the cob, etc.
), try to press the food against the back teeth on the upper in order to stabilize the
denture. |
| It is
perfectly normal to experience some discomfort associated with sore spots during the
adjustment period. Nature did not intend for us to wear hard plastic against soft gum
tissue. It takes a while for the gum tissues to firm up and to accommodate to the hard
plastic denture. |
| If sore
spots should develop (and in some cases they do not), please be sure to wear the denture
for at least 24 hours prior to your adjustment visit!
If your dentist can't see the sore spot
visually, it is sometimes impossible for him to make the necessary adjustments. |
| Reading
aloud during the first couple of days will go a long way in reducing any minor speech
problems which may result from wearing a new denture. If speech problems continue to
persist, please let your dentist know. |
| An unclean
denture is neither healthy, attractive or comfortable. Clean you new denture every morning
and night with either a denture toothbrush and denture toothpaste ( if necessary, any
toothpaste can be used ) or with one of the commercially available denture cleaners.
Please be sure to check with your dentist to make sure that the commercial cleaner will
not interfere with the type of denture liner you may have in your prosthesis. Permanent
soft liners and
temporary soft liners
react poorly to most commercial cleaners. |
| We prefer
that you leave out one or both of your dentures at night. This allows your gum tissues to
breathe and also relieves them of the constant pressures of mastication.
|
| Gum
tissues are in a constant state of change but dentures are not. Therefore,
periodic relining of your dentures may be necessary. If you find your denture getting
looser and mastication more difficult, this may be a sign that a reline may be needed. It
is very important for your dentist to see you regularly to evaluate the state of your oral
tissues and to determine if additional treatment is required. Dentures typically need to
be relined or remade every 3-5 years. |
| NEVER try to adjust your dentures yourself !
Home remedies, although simple, will only lead to trouble.
|
