Dentures help with everyday tasks such as eating and speaking, but just as importantly they can help to restore your smile and your confidence! That said, adjusting to wearing dentures can take a little time. Here are a few tips to help you!
How They Feel
Your new dentures are likely to feel somewhat awkward for several weeks after you first get them. For example, they might feel a bit loose as the muscles of your cheeks and tongue learn to keep your new dentures in place.
You might experience some minor irritation or soreness, as well as a temporary increase in saliva flow, but rest assured that these problems will fade away as you become accustomed to your dentures.
Tips For Eating & Speaking
Eating with your new dentures in place is going to take practice. Be patient and start with soft foods cut into small pieces. Be sure to chew slowly and carefully, using both sides of your mouth at the same time in order to prevent your dentures from tipping. Slowly add other foods once you’ve mastered soft foods, until you gradually return to your normal diet.
It's important to remember to continue chewing food using both sides of the mouth at the same time. Be extra careful when eating hot or hard foods, as well as sharp-edged shells or bones.
Speaking is going to require a bit of practice. It's a good idea to read out loud to yourself or a loved one. Repeat words that you find you're having particular difficulty with. If your dentures "click" while you're talking, just try speaking a little more slowly.
You may find that your dentures occasionally slip when you laugh, cough or smile. The best way to reposition the dentures is by gently biting down and swallowing.
