**UPDATE (to the update?)** Dental Update #12 Almost 3 Weeks In

 I wrote this original post 7 days ago and... I'm back with more good news. I am eating salads almost every day and sometimes twice a day now. I can chew the peppers and onions and thick pieces of tomato. It is glorious. 

What I have learned is that it is all about the adhesive. I think I mentioned before that I had to try a couple before I got what I like. I settled on a powder, and I learned how to use just the right amount: enough for a good hold, but not so much that it's caked on. If I don't use my adhesive properly, I have trouble chewing and enjoying some foods.

There are a couple of things I've noticed and have to be careful of. While I'm mostly protected from brain freeze when eating cold things (because of the top palate), but I can also accidentally swallow something that is too hot. If I don't feel the heat on my palate, a hot food or beverage can hit me wrong going down my throat. I know, I know and, yes, I do realize it when it hits my tongue, but...

All in all, I can say that I really got lucky in choosing a great dentist. My teeth have been working well and my diet is so much healthier now that I can chow down on veggies. I'm not going back to eating as much meat as I always did, but it's nice to have a piece of turkey, chicken, or pork chop every now and again.

I will say it one more time for the folks in the back: don't hesitate to get started on your dental journey!

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If I said at one point that I would do a diary about having my teeth, I lied. I tried to keep a daily record for my dentist and ended up only noting the highlights. In the 18 days that I have had these teeth, these are the main highlights:

• Days 1-4: I felt like crying. A lot. I couldn't eat anything. The teeth felt too big, and my tongue was taking up too much room, blah, blah, blah...
• Day 4: I ate a potato chip. Best chip ever.
• Switched from using liquid adhesive to a thick paste.
• Learned that the better your dentures fit, the thinner your adhesive should be.
• Switched from a thick paste to a powder. This has been much better.
• Day 9: Ate part of a sandwich of tomato, avocado, and spinach.
• Learned that it's not what I eat, but how I eat. I can eat almost anything - but some things require a bit more care.
• Day 12: My jaw and face muscles have gotten used to having dentures. The teeth don't feel as big and my tongue is back to normal. The gagging issue has greatly improved.
• Day 15: My dentures stopped feeling like dentures and started to feel more a natural part of my mouth.

It kept getting better and better. I still and not able to eat whole raw carrots and broccoli, but will be getting some to slice thin and eat with a bit of dip. I think the best day I had was when I was able to pull out the walnuts that have been in my freezer for over a year. I made some brown sugar bread with them and... heaven. Pure heaven.

There are still days when I wake up and think, "This is my life now". Mostly, though, I am just thankful to be able to chew food thoroughly.

I've run into a couple of more things that are normal for people with dentures. One is that I've had to go back for minor adjustments. Another is that it's as easy to develop bad habits with dentures as it is with natural teeth. I have been tempted to sleep in mine and have to fight that urge. I must say, though, that it's easier to reach all the nooks and crannies when brushing dentures! 

Sounds like that dental lisp...
(source link)

This will most likely be the last post dedicated to dentures. If I can offer any advice, it would be:

• Almost everybody has a hard time adjusting
• As soon as you are able to eat with dentures, do not be tempted to eat without them
• It really does get easier, bit by bit. You might feel that you are never going to be even close to normal again without your natural teeth. I think everyone feels that way for the first several days or weeks.
• For encouragement, go search out videos with "dentures vs food" or "food vs dentures". There are a lot of wonderful people who share their experiences and helpful tips.
• Check out the Subreddit for dentures. Great group of helpful people offering a lot of encouragement and advice.

So, yeah. I am at the point where I have accepted that this really is my life now. I am very glad to have a beautiful smile again. I am very blessed to be able to eat and enjoy food again. Just remember, you can't make the journey if you don't start the journey.

Peace

-- Free

**UPDATE** Dental Update #7 Almost Time!

 **UPDATE** I am in tears right now. I just learned that my appointment on Friday is not to get my teeth. It's to get the pins for my lower teeth. I will have to wait another 3 months for the pins to heal and stabilize.

Listen, when I heard this, I literally slid down the wall and sat there nearly catatonic for at least a full minute. The dentist tried to cheer me up my saying I would have my uppers sooner and that will make my face look more normal. That does not make me feel better. At this point, I'm more ready to eat veggies than I am vain. 

I have put on so much weight in this past 6 months. I told my family that I am going to be going on a coffee and soup diet while I wait for my teeth. Maybe being depressed will help me lose weight...

I can't even think about this right now.

After 6 months of waiting for my gums to heal, I will finally be going in on Friday to... hopefully, get the actual dentures. I am hoping only because my dentist wants to put pins in to hold my lower plates steady. 

Anyway.

One of my neighbors got her bottom plate from the same dentist because I recommended him. Her teeth look amazing. If I didn't know, I'd think they were her real teeth. That's encouraging.

Because I can sometimes (but not often) be as pessimistic as the annoying Ray Barone, I am anxious about how things will turn out. While I will be happy to have a working set of teeth, I am worried that I will be self-conscious or not able to chew properly or just not be happy...

I have been saving up grocery money to go crazy getting meat and vegetables and popcorn. I literally have a list for this weekend's shopping trip. And I am dreaming of all the weight I can lose! I may never eat another pancake or bowl of oatmeal again.

That's all I can say about it for now. Once I have teeth - if I am happy - I might even post a photo (though I don't like putting my pics on the internet these days). We'll see. At any rate, there will be another (and final?) update coming.

Peace

--Free