Gum disease runs in my family. I had slowly lost all but 3 of my top teeth so I decided to take a big step and get upper dentures. This was a very big decision because I could still eat most everything with just the three teeth on top (I have my bottom teeth still)
Monday I went to the dentist for the pulling of the teeth and placement of the denture. I am adapting to having it in my mouth, and love that for the first time in 10 yrs I am not ashamed to smile, but….
I’m hungry! Yes I can eat if I put food on both sides so the plate does not shift, but I used to enjoy eating and now it’s work. I know it will get better and it’s only been a few days but I miss sandwiches and meat and other assorted items… even salad
Can anyone tell me how long it will take before I can eat properly again, its sad when eating a toaster waffle become a big accomplishment for the day!
Three teeth?! I just had 26 pulled, and got the upper and lower denture, all on the same day, while I was awake.
Gum disease, lack of brushing discipline, diabetes, all combined to destroy my teeth. I got some nasty cavities on my upper front teeth, and then I chipped one. That was it for me. I had so many bad teeth that there was nothing to salvage.
Now, a week and a couple days later, I am able to eat most things. It’s a trick, and it goes slowly, but I’ve gotten used to that since I had weight loss surgery six years ago. Had a piece of pizza tonight, and even some potato chips. All savored very slowly.
I look forward to the day when my gums are healed and I get my “real” dentures – about four months they tell me. Then I can fixident and forget it. Ha!
Stop by my blog and read my post titled “Hope” for all the gory details.
Hang in there. You’ll be chewing like a champ in no time.
Brian
Your gums will eventually toughen up and you’ll want to eat solid food again. Using a denture adhesive can help.
Begin with blender drinks, yogurt, oatmeal, bananas, eggs, cream soups, mashed potatoes and pudding.
When you begin eating solids, cut them into teeny weeny, itsy bitsy, really tiny pieces. Cook veggies enough to soften them. Stay away from nuts, apples, and seafood with shells.
When you begin chewing, keep the food on both sides of your mouth for balance. Your denture might tip until you get used to eating again. Do not use your front teeth as a cutting tool. They’re not meant for that.
The first thing you might notice is that you are no longer able to bite into something head-on and pull it the way you used to. You didn’t know you did that, did you? Well, you did and now you can’t.
Tearing and pulling food after biting into it will cause your denture to become loose. We’re use to biting into a piece of food and pushing our heads forward at the same time. Bite from the side of your mouth and cut it with those teeth. A little twist on that piece of food might help. Practic in private.
I was able to eat chicken wings 3 weeks after receiving my full upper denture. Maybe not very well, but I did it.
Attitude is everything. I was commited to making this work and now I eat almost everything I ate before receiving my upper denture.
Keep smiling.
Saundra
http://www.gotteethguide.com
i’m just getting used to mine – both upper and lower plates. slow, patient improvement. one thing i’m presently dealing with are small splinters of bone working their way to the surface from the extractions, and will take the suggestions of the dentist and techs to go see them about it in a day or two…. it’s really a day at a time with em for me, and i truly have no regrets.
A week ago i had 14 teeth pulled, 4 being my wisdom teeth. I ended up getting the pneumonia so I have not been wearing the uppers my dentist gave me to wear. What is the point in wearing my uppers when I am throwing up and they fall out? Now I have gotten acustomed to not wearing my uppers and almost prefer to not have them in. I know this is bad so I am forcing myself to keep them in. I can talk ok in them, I sould like I have a lisp but I can not eat with them in. It is even difficult to swallow the antibiotics and other pills tha I need to take. Today, I tried to eat some mashed potatoes and i couldn’t do it. I gagged trying to work the food down to swallow. I don’t know if I am doing something wrong or what. Does anyone else have this problem?