Adjusting to Life With Dentures

Jul 24, 2024

Adjusting to Life With Dentures
Dentures are an excellent way to improve your appearance and restore dental health when you’re missing teeth. Still, there will be an adjustment period. Here’s what to expect.

When you get traditional dentures, you don’t just pop them in and go about your day. They feel awkward at first, and learning how to eat and talk with this new appliance in your mouth takes practice. But you’re not on your own.

Thomas Eaton, DDS, serving the Ione, California, community for over 35 years, helps his patients every step of the way, from ensuring that dentures fit perfectly to assisting with any problems that arise. 

Here’s a look at what to expect as you adjust to life with dentures.

Your adjustment depends on the type of denture

Traditional dentures require the longest adjustment period. These dentures are made to fit snugly over your gums, forming a seal with saliva. The upper piece also has material covering the roof of your mouth to improve suction.

You can use a denture adhesive to improve the stability of dentures. However, the seal is easy to break because dentures are made to come out so you can clean them and your gums. The potential movement combined with the new sensation of dentures in your mouth are the top reasons it takes time and practice to adjust to your new teeth.

In contrast, you don’t need an adjustment period if you get implant-supported dentures. These dentures are anchored in place by a post inserted into your jaw and bonded to your jawbone. The implanted posts are so secure that the dentures permanently attached to them feel and act like your natural teeth. 

Be gentle on your gums at the start

When you first start wearing your dentures, your gums will naturally feel sore while they adjust to them. Your mouth will also produce more saliva for a short time.

It helps to stick with a soft diet for the first few days. Pudding, cooked cereal, applesauce, scrambled eggs, and soups that don’t have meats and vegetables are a few ideas.

Soothe your sore gums by rinsing them with warm saltwater. And if the soreness is intolerable or worsens, call us so we can help.

Gradually return to normal eating habits

When your gums aren’t sore, and you’re more accustomed to the feel of your dentures, you can start to include your usual foods. Take it slowly and stick to soft foods. For example, eat cooked vegetables rather than fresh ones and go with fish rather than steak. Cut all your food (even soft foods) into bite-sized pieces so they’re easier to eat.

Check the temperature of hot foods and beverages before putting them in your mouth. Dentures tend to have an insulating effect, so you may not feel the real temperature until too late.

The following tips will help you adjust to eating normal foods with new dentures:

  • Chew slowly
  • Bite carefully (don’t use your front teeth)
  • Chew food on both sides of your mouth

When you bite using your front teeth, your dentures can become unstable and move around. Chewing on both sides maintains even pressure that keeps your dentures stable.

Over the next one to three weeks, you will begin to feel more comfortable biting and chewing. As you gain confidence, you can introduce firmer foods, always chewing and biting carefully.

Before long, you’re back to eating nearly the same diet you had before your dentures. But there will always be some foods that you should eat with care, even after your gums are strong and you have great-fitting dentures. Hard or sticky foods and candies, fresh fruits, nuts, and seeds can be challenging with dentures. 

Learning to speak with dentures

In the first few weeks, the unusual feel of your dentures may make it hard to say some words. It helps to speak slowly, but you need to practice. Try reading a book out loud, repeating the words that are difficult to say, or singing along with your favorite songs.

If your dentures move when you talk, smile, or laugh, gently bite down and swallow to get them back into their proper position. If you continue to have trouble with your dentures slipping, we may need to adjust the fit. Dentures that were once a great fit may become loose as your gums heal and change shape over time. 

If you’re missing teeth, schedule a denture consultation with Dr. Eaton. Expertise is essential when replacing missing teeth or any dental procedure. Book with the best. Call the office at 209-274-2429 or schedule an appointment online