Introduction (General Care Instructions)
Adjusting to new dentures, whether they are immediate, conventional, full, or partial, takes time and patience. This guide provides essential information to help you navigate the initial adjustment period and ensure the long-term comfort and function of your dentures. Please read it carefully and contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Common Post-Op Symptoms & How to Manage Them
It is normal to experience some discomfort, soreness, and changes in speech and eating habits when you first start wearing dentures. Here’s how to manage these common symptoms:
- Sore Spots: New dentures can cause sore spots on your gums. This is common and usually indicates that an adjustment is needed. Do not try to adjust the denture yourself. Contact our office to schedule an adjustment appointment. It is helpful to wear your dentures for a few hours before your adjustment appointment so we can identify the exact sore spots.
- Increased Saliva Flow: You may notice an increase in saliva production initially. This is a natural response of your mouth to the new appliance and will subside over time.
- Difficulty Speaking: Your speech may be altered initially. Practice reading aloud, singing, and repeating difficult words to help your tongue and lips adapt to the new dentures. This will improve with time and practice.
- Difficulty Eating: Eating with new dentures requires practice. Start with soft foods and gradually introduce more solid foods. Chew slowly and use both sides of your mouth simultaneously to help stabilize the dentures.
Wearing Your Dentures
- Immediate Dentures: If you received immediate dentures (placed immediately after tooth extractions), you must wear them continuously for the first 24 hours, including while sleeping, unless otherwise instructed. This acts as a bandage to help control bleeding and swelling. After 24 hours, you can remove them for cleaning.
- Conventional Dentures: For conventional dentures, wear them for most of the day to get accustomed to them. However, it is important to remove your dentures at night (for at least 6-8 hours) to allow your gums to rest and to promote oral health. Store them in water or a denture cleaning solution to prevent them from drying out.
Dietary Restrictions and Recommendations
Eating with new dentures takes practice. Start with soft foods and gradually progress to more solid items. Be patient with yourself.
Foods to start with:
- Liquids: Soups, smoothies, puddings, applesauce.
- Soft foods: Scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, yogurt, cottage cheese, cooked cereals (oatmeal).
- Soft cooked vegetables and fruits (without skins or seeds).
- Soft meats: Poached fish, finely diced chicken or meatloaf.
Tips for eating:
- Cut food into small, manageable pieces.
- Chew slowly and use both sides of your mouth at the same time to distribute pressure evenly.
- Avoid biting with your front teeth, as this can dislodge the dentures.
Foods to avoid (initially and with caution later):
- Hard, crunchy foods (nuts, hard candies, popcorn, ice).
- Sticky foods (caramel, chewing gum).
- Very chewy foods (tough meats, bagels).
- Foods with small seeds (berries, sesame seeds) that can get trapped under dentures.
Oral Hygiene and Care
Proper cleaning of your dentures and your mouth is essential for hygiene and to prevent gum irritation.
- Cleaning Dentures: Remove your dentures and brush them daily with a soft-bristled denture brush and a non-abrasive denture cleaner or mild soap. Do not use regular toothpaste, as it can be too abrasive and scratch the denture surface. Rinse thoroughly under running water.
- Cleaning Your Mouth: Gently brush your gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth with a soft toothbrush every day. This stimulates circulation and removes plaque.
- Soaking: Soak your dentures in a denture cleaning solution overnight or as recommended by your dentist.
Medications and Pain Management
Any discomfort from sore spots can usually be managed by having the denture adjusted. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be used if needed. Warm salt water rinses can also help soothe sore gums.
Activity Restrictions (Physical Activity, Work, etc.)
There are no specific activity restrictions with dentures. You can resume your normal daily activities. However, if you participate in sports, discuss with your dentist if a mouthguard is recommended to protect your dentures and remaining oral tissues.
When to Contact Us / Emergency Instructions
Contact our office immediately if you experience any of the following:
- Severe or persistent pain that is not relieved by adjustments or medication.
- A denture breaks or cracks.
- You develop significant swelling or signs of infection.
- You are unable to wear your dentures due to extreme discomfort.
Follow-Up Appointments
Regular follow-up appointments are crucial during the initial adjustment period to ensure your dentures fit comfortably and function properly. Your gums and bone will change over time, requiring periodic relines or adjustments to your dentures. Regular dental check-ups are also important to monitor your oral health.
