Adjusting to New Dentures

What to Expect

Dentures can help restore your smile and support you in feeling more confident in your grin. They can also reduce bone loss and support facial structure and muscles.

While dentures may be a great long-term solution if you are missing teeth, adjusting to them can take time and effort. 

Typically, it takes people anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks to fully adjust to wearing dentures. 

Be patient as your mouth adapts to the changes and you get used to having dentures where your natural teeth once were. Understanding what you can expect can help make for a smoother transition. 

Common Complaints 

In the early stages of wearing dentures, some patients notice these challenges:

• Higher production of saliva
• Problems speaking or eating while wearing dentures 
• Impact on chewing 
• Smile seems unnatural 
• Gums may shrink or loosen
• Bone chips and sore spots may develop

Remember that these issues are a natural part of the dental process, and most will be temporary. 

Tips for Adjusting to Dentures 

Your dentures might feel unnatural and a bit awkward in those first few days or weeks. During this time, some of your biggest challenges may be related to changes in speaking and eating. Here are some tips to help. 

Eating

At first, you'll need to eat a diet of liquid or soft foods after getting your new dentures. Due to your diet limitations during those first few days of the recovery process, you might want to plan ahead and prepare foods that will be ready when you're hungry. Try to pick foods that won't require much chewing, as these are best for preventing pain or discomfort. 

You might also want to use a food processor, juicer or blender to eat some of your favourite foods during this period. 

Use this list to help you in the first few days or weeks:

• Soups
• Melted or soft cheeses 
• Eggs
• Tofu
• Yogurt
• Applesauce 
• Pancakes 
• Muffins
• Oatmeal 
• Ice cream or milkshakes 
• Pasta
• Rice
• Steamed or cooked vegetables that have softened
• Smoothies
• Avocadoes

Talking

Similar to eating, you may find it awkward to talk for the first few weeks. However, you can start to regain confidence and comfort in speaking with a little practice. 

It may help to speak slower than usual, which can assist with controlling movement and reducing clicking noises that may happen if your dentures shift while speaking. You may find that wearing denture adhesive helps to keep your dentures in place. Ask your dentist if this solution is right for you. 

You may find it useful to read out loud to yourself as a way to practice, especially in the first few days when speaking around other people may make you feel somewhat self-conscious. This allows you to adapt and get used to repeating difficult sounds — without the prospect of an audience. The more you practice, the easier and more natural speaking 

The more chances you take to practice, the easier and more natural it will become, quickly helping you to feel confident in your new dentures. 

Looking for more tips on how to make living with dentures easier? We can help. Talk to your dentist at Seymour Dental Centre today!