It will be 2 weeks on Monday since my new teeth. My previous posts are mostly under "New Teeth at 33" if you want to read where I started. (Full upper denture immediately after 8 extractions on top, partial on the bottom with the 7 natural teeth I have left.)
Two weeks in feels so much better than 2 days in! I struggled physically & emotionally the entire first week. The 8 extraction sites on the top were so painful, and I struggled with disgust. I had throbbin pains where my top teeth used to be, and I gagged a lot, and as the day went by I would feel more and more like I had too many teeth in my mouth. And eating was just not happening.
Tonight my hubby told me that he cannot see a difference in my face, that I look like me again. :) The teeth do look awesome I must say, it is the adjustment going on inside my mouth that is worse. Today the nasty taste in my mouth is mostly gone, but I still struggle with eating. I eat a lot of yogurt, applesauce, small bites of bread, pudding, ice cream, and most recently lots of noodles. And I can eat refried beans with salsa and some rice from the Mexican restaurant! :) I do try to branch out and continue to try to eat more foods, but chewing takes a lot of getting used to. I can definitely eat more today than I could a week ago! Although I have really noticed that my sense of taste has diminished, hoping that makes a comeback eventually too.
It doesn't hurt to take the top one out and clean it anymore. In fact it is a relief after I do eat a "meal" to take them out and rinse/clean. I have not used any adhesives at all yet, the dentist said it is too early and they have been staying in just fine so far while my upper gums are healing. Today was the first time that I Noticed towards the end of the day that my upper denture seemed a little loose, guess I am healing & shrinking!
Night time is tough. Right now my dentist has me sleeping with my teeth out, leaving me with my 7 natural teeth I have left in the bottom front. I have 8 fresh extractions on the top, and the teeth on the bottom touch the holes when I sleep. The first week of course was tough, this week seems a little better. I have always been a bad grinder/clencher at night, and worn a mouthguard for years until my recent dental activity. I haven't really been grinding or clenching since my new teeth, but I do wake up with my bottom teeth uncomfortably touching the holes on the top. Maybe it will be better when my gums have healed.
This has been a pretty tough thing, I not only am a mother of an almost 3 year old boy, but work part time selling furniture. I need to be able to talk! I am so happy about the way that my new teeth look, it has still been a huge adjustment too.
I just wanted to make an update post, I have benefitted so much from all of YOUR posts. I try to login and read every day, it is good for all of us to read each other's experiences I think no matter if you still are about to get your new teeth or have had them for a long time.
