If you've suffered with a lifetime of dental neglect, you don't have to continue and suffer all the consequences. You may be worried about your appearance and have difficulty in chewing your food and may even have noticed that some missing teeth affect the way that you sound when you talk. If you've thought about dentures but are worried about how you will acclimatise to them, you should put your mind at rest. How can you get used to a new, full set of teeth, while enjoying all of the benefits?

Eating Well

One of the first areas to look at is your diet. A food plan that is well balanced is certainly beneficial to your overall health, but it should help you during meals, as well. A finely balanced diet is typically made up of foods that are easier to masticate and swallow, such as steamed vegetables, baked fish, chicken and eggs. You should get used to taking smaller bites than normal and avoid any foods that are difficult to chew, or have a complicated texture. In particular, avoid eating nuts or trying to chew corn on the cob.

Daily Care

You will need to keep up with a daily care regimen even though these are not your original teeth. If not, bacteria and tartar can build up and your dentures could stain. The first thing to do is to rinse them off to get rid of any food particles and then brush with a soft bristle appliance, a small amount of soap and warm water. Make sure that all of the adhesive is removed, should you use this.

Overnight Routine

It's also a good idea to soak your dentures overnight in a specific cleanser to remove any bacteria. This will help to remove any germs that can lead to bad breath, but don't forget to rinse thoroughly in water before you put them back in.

Dentists recommend that you take out your dentures at night, so that you can give the soft tissues in your mouth time to recover from daily use.

Training Your Speech

One of the reasons why you opted to get dentures in the first place was because of some issues you were experiencing when talking with others. You may find it a little awkward in the beginning as you acclimatise to your new dentures, as you may think that you "sound" different. If so, try practising for the first couple of weeks by reading out loud to yourself, so that your tongue will become accustomed to its new "operating environment."

Proper Fitment

Talk with your dentist if you're not entirely happy about the way that your new dentures fit, as you may have to get some adhesives to keep them in place. These are also a good option as they prevent the buildup of food particles in between the gums and the dentures.

Keeping in Touch

Finally, go back to your dentist on a regular basis for a checkup, so that he or she can make any adjustments as needed and help you get used to your new life.