After years of wearing traditional dentures, you have decided to make the leap—you are going to get implant dentures. You are so excited to have teeth that do not slip around and to have more confidence. However, it is important to note that you will likely need at least a little bit of time to get used to your new teeth. The good news is that it should not take nearly as long as you needed when you first got normal dentures!
To help with your transition to implant dentures, here are a few simple, helpful tips.
Be Careful Chewing and Drinking Hot Beverages
After your dentures are secured to your implants, it may take a few meals to get used to eating with your new replacement teeth. While traditional dentures can slip and do not give you the kind of biting power you had before, implant dentures feel just like real teeth, so it will likely be easy for your mouth to adapt.
Just keep in mind that some things may be different from before you suffered tooth loss. For instance, because your teeth are prosthetic, you will not feel as much pressure when you bite down hard. As a result, you need to keep your tongue and lips clear so that you do not accidentally bite them.
In addition, the dentures (whether traditional or implant type) cover your gums, which insulates these soft tissues from touching hot beverages. However, this often leads to burns on the tongue and throat. Before you take a large gulp of coffee or tea, test it out on your lips first and take small sips to protect your mouth’s soft tissues.
Enjoy Your Favorite Healthy Foods Again
One of the best benefits of implants is that they restore more of your original biting power, which means you can have a crisp, juicy apple or tender steak or raw carrots again. However, for a day or two after attaching your dentures to the implants, you may want to have a softer diet and build up from there. Be patient for just a little bit, and you will soon be able to eat basically whatever you want!
Have a Daily Oral Health Routine
If you have had dentures, you may be used to taking care of your prosthetic teeth by taking them out and soaking them overnight. Most of the time, implant dentures are not removable, which means you will have to take care of your implant dentures as you would natural teeth.
This requires brushing your teeth twice and flossing once every day. You should also drink plenty of water and limit how much sugar you eat or drink to help keep acids and bacteria to a minimum.
It may take a few weeks to turn these tasks into habits, but over time, they can become a natural part of your lifestyle. If you need help staying on track with your daily hygiene, you could set alarms on your phone or put up reminders in your bathroom to help you remember to brush and floss.
In the end, adjusting to having implant dentures takes up much less time than it took for you to get used to normal dentures. Soon they will feel natural and comfortable!
About the Practice
Whether you simply need a dental checkup or you are wanting to replace missing teeth with implant dentures, Pioneer Greens Dentistry can meet all your dental needs in one convenient location. Dr. Claire Haag and Dr. Chris Haag have been practicing in the area for nearly 30 years and have continued to grow their skills through advanced training. If you have questions about implant dentures, you can reach out to our team by calling our office at 402-483-7502 or contacting us online.