When you’re about to get your first set of dentures, it’s natural to feel a little uneasy about how they will feel with regular use or how they will change your appearance. Like many things in life, new dentures will require your patience as you adjust to them.
By following our tips for adjusting to new dentures, you can approach the situation with confidence- making your new dentures a welcome change instead of a burdensome one!
Practice, Practice, Practice
The best way to ensure a smooth adjustment process when getting new dentures is to force yourself to wear them regularly. While it may be tempting to wear your dentures for short periods of time, it’s essential that you push through this discomfort. After all, the longer you put off the regular use of your dentures, the longer the adjustment period will take.
It’s best practice to put your dentures in first thing in the morning upon waking. Then, no matter how tempting, force yourself to wear the dentures all day long- only taking them out to clean them just before you head to bed. Similarly to a retainer, prolonged use is the best way to adjust to your new dentures as quickly as possible.
Approach Foods With Caution
It’s essential that you are patient when returning to your regular diet after getting your new dentures. You’ll want to stick to softer foods for the first few days with your dentures while your mouth adjusts.
Here are some foods you may want to consider during this first phase:
- Soups
- Mashed Potatoes
- Applesauce
- Yogurt
- Fruit Smoothies
- Ice cream
- Hummus
Chew Thoroughly
While we’re on the subject of food, it’s important to note that even while taking precautions when selecting your meals, you should still take care when chewing. Chew slowly and carefully, balancing the job between both sides of your mouth. This will dramatically reduce the stress on your gums and keep your dentures from slipping during the process.
Practice Speaking With Your New Dentures
When introducing your mouth to dentures, you’ll likely have a hard time speaking as usual. Your new dentures may feel strange, and your tongue and lips may move differently entirely involuntarily.
To adjust to speaking with your new dentures, practice speaking on your own time. Tongue twisters happen to be a great place to start- and it’s fun on top of that! With practice, you’ll be able to speak comfortably with your dentures in no time!
Having a Hard Time Getting Adjusted?
While some discomfort and frustration are to be expected when adjusting to your new dentures, there are several situations where you can assume that something may be wrong. If you’re experiencing frequent slipping, various sore spots, or if something feels off after a regular amount of use, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your provider for adjustments. Remember, your new dentures shouldn’t necessarily cause pain and certainly shouldn’t often slip so if you’re experiencing this, a manual change is likely in order. Visit our new to dentures page to learn more about your new dentures!
