At South Calgary Dentures, two of our favourite things to do are helping our patients to regain confidence in their smile and eating. We know that many of our patients are looking forward to being able to enjoy their favourite foods again, and we are here to help you do just that. However, getting fitted with dentures today doesn’t mean that you’ll be ready to eat steak by tomorrow. We’re hopeful that this article will give you the information you need to set realistic goals for your journey to eating with confidence once more.
Be Careful with Hot Foods.
We don’t need to tell you how strange a new pair of dentures can feel in your mouth. Whether you’re getting an adjustment or you’re being fitted for your first pair of dentures, your mouth can feel a little strange for a while. Because of the new sensations from the dentures, your brain may be so overwhelmed that it fails to detect how warm food is or even the flavour of foods. This can be both bizarre and frustrating, but it’s very important that you take the time to cut your food into small pieces and let the food sit for a while until it is a more acceptable temperature for your mouth. Just because your brain isn’t noticing the temperature doesn’t mean you can’t burn yourself!
Have Patience.
Fortunately, you’ll find your sensation of temperature and taste returns soon. The body is an amazing system, and people can get used to almost any new sensation, so after a few days, you’ll find your brain begins to ignore your dentures. Eating will feel normal, your sense of taste will return, and you’ll be able to safely detect if a food is too hot once more. That said, we still recommend that you cut your food into small pieces and eat slowly. Making sure to eat with both sides of your mouth at the same time will also help to make the transition easier. You’ll find slowly eating small bites is especially important as you move away from soft food towards your more typical diet. The good news is that, with time, you should be able to eat nearly all your favourite foods again — though you’ll probably still want to cut them up.
Keep Them Clean.
No one wants to find out they have a piece of spinach between their front teeth! Part of eating with confidence is knowing that your dentures are clean. After you’ve finished eating a meal or a snack, make sure you rinse your dentures thoroughly with water. This will remove any food particles and odd flavours. Using a soft toothbrush, gently clean the inside of your mouth as well. Removing food will prevent bacteria growth and help make sure your dentures fit comfortably. Remember to brush your dentures at least once a day.
We know that many of our patients are impatient to get back to their normal life. They want to smile and eat as naturally and confidently as they did in their twenties! We understand this desire, and it is our goal to help each of our patients achieve complete confidence while eating. If you’re tired of hiding your smile and not being able to eat the foods you enjoy, contact our experts at South Calgary Dentures today. We’re here to help.
