Immediate dentures, while a short-term and temporary solution, serve an important role in dental care. If your dentist recommends that you have all your upper or lower teeth removed, an immediate denture will allow you to walk out of the dentist’s office with a beautifully complete smile. However, it’s important that you follow your dentist’s instructions to keep your mouth healthy and comfortable. Use the tips below to prepare for your first day with immediate dentures.
First Day with Immediate Dentures
It may take you a little time to get used to your dentures. On your first day with immediate dentures, as well as the days that follow, keep these tips in mind:
- Wait to remove your denture. Do not remove your immediate denture at all until your follow-up appointment the next day. A member of your dental care team will remove the denture for you, clean it, and adjust any areas that have been rubbing against tissue.
- Consume a soft diet. Stick with soft foods like soups, yogurt, pasta, eggs, and smoothies for the first few days. When you’re more accustomed to your dentures, you can shift to more solid foods. Don’t be discouraged if it takes you a little while to learn to eat hard and chewy foods like steak, apple, and carrots, as they typically require a gradual learning curve.
- Be patient with your speech. Learning to talk with your new dentures in place will require some patience and practice. To relearn your normal speech, we recommend reading aloud.
- Expect some sore spots. During your first few days with your immediate dentures, you will likely develop some sore spots. These occur due to uneven pressure on the denture. Adjustments are best made following three to six hours of continuous wear, as this helps your dental team identify the precise areas causing discomfort. Then, these areas can be trimmed down to prevent future soreness.
- Expect some looseness. If your teeth were removed on the same day your immediate denture was inserted, the denture will likely start to feel loose as your gums and bone heal and shrink. This is normal. During this healing period, you may need to wear a temporary liner to improve the fit of your denture.
Home Care for the First Two Weeks
Saltwater Rinses
To promote healing, take the denture out three times each day for no more than 10 minutes and rinse your mouth using saltwater (a teaspoon of salt dissolved in eight ounces of warm water). Do not spit forcefully. Continue this treatment for one week.
Cleaning Your Denture
It’s important to carefully rinse your denture under cold water. Scrub both the inside and outside with a denture brush using only cold water. Do not use soap, toothpaste, or even denture cleaners at this point. When cleaning your denture, fill one-third of your sink with water because your denture will break if it’s dropped on a hard surface.
Remember that dentures of any kind should be cleaned nightly and after meals, as they can collect food, plaque, and tartar build-up just as normal teeth do. Inadequate daily cleaning of your denture will cause premature staining and odor accumulation.
Storing Your Denture Overnight
Two weeks following the date of your extractions, you can begin taking your denture out at bedtime. Rinse and scrub it as we described above. Then, place the denture in a cup or container and cover it with clean, cold water and denture-cleaning solution. Let it rest there while you sleep. Your dentures must be kept in a humid or wet environment when not in your mouth or they may warp.
After you take out your denture, brush your gums, tongue, and palate with a regular toothbrush to remove plaque and bacteria and stimulate circulation.
When you wake up, rinse your denture once more before placing it back in your mouth. Allowing your dentures to sit for at least six to eight hours each day (typically overnight while sleeping) will help keep your gums healthy and your denture fitting well.
Dental Adhesives
Denture adhesives may be used as needed. There are many types and brands available. After using adhesives each day, be sure to remove them from your denture, clean your denture, and clean your gum tissue.
Prescription Medications
Finally, remember to take any prescribed medications as directed by your dentist.
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Do you need to have all of your upper or lower teeth extracted? Do you want to avoid that interim period in which you have neither teeth nor dentures? Immediate dentures might be perfect for you. To learn more, contact Wilkinson Dental today to schedule a consultation. You can make an appointment online or call us at 417-708-0556.