6 Tips For Getting Comfortable With New Dentures

Whether you’ve received a set of full dentures or partial dentures to replace missing teeth, it will take some time to get used to them. What can you expect, and how can you get more comfortable with your new dentures? Read on and learn more from Pineville Family Dentistry.

1. Adjust Your Expectations

First, be ready for a change. Full and partial dentures don’t feel exactly like teeth. They will feel strange at first. You may have trouble biting and speaking. You may salivate more than you usually do. This is all normal.

Be patient. It will take time to adjust to your dentures. It usually takes about a month to feel comfortable eating and speaking with dentures. Keep this in mind. Improvement takes practice and time. You won’t get used to your dentures overnight. 

2. Eat A Nutritious Diet

You can continue to eat most of your favorite foods with dentures. Maintaining a healthy diet is important as you heal and recover. However, you may need to make some adjustments like cutting tough food into smaller pieces. Slicing steak into small pieces or cutting up fibrous vegetables like broccoli is a good idea.

Feel free to start out with mostly soft foods. As you get more used to your dentures and how to chew, you can move onto tougher and chewier foods. 

3. Prepare For Sore Facial Muscles

Your cheek and facial muscles will probably be sore after you start chewing with dentures, since your mouth will be moving and chewing in a different way. Embrace this! It’s a sign that you’re strengthening your mouth and getting used to your dentures.

You may even want to do some facial exercises in the weeks leading up to your denture appointment to prepare yourself and ensure you can get used to your dentures more quickly. 

4. Try Adhesives For A Better Fit

If your dentures seem to be slipping slightly, denture adhesives can help. Available as strips or a paste, these adhesives help hold your dentures in place. However, if your dentures continue to slip and slide, they may be improperly fitted. See your dentist for a follow-up and an adjustment.

5. Practice Speaking And Consider Singing

To get used to how your dentures sound, you can talk to yourself or even sing to yourself. Singing helps you get more used to forming certain words and sounds, and allows you to adjust to your dentures more easily. 

6. Come To All Of Your Follow-Up Appointments 

You’ll usually come back to Pineville Family Dentistry a few times after your final denture fitting so that Dr. Babb can assess your oral health and ensure your dentures fit properly. Make sure to come to all of your follow-ups, and follow Dr. Babb’s instructions to keep your mouth healthy at home.

Need Dentures In Pineville? Schedule An Appointment With Dr. Babb Today!

Dr. Troy Babb serves patients throughout Kingsville, Pineville, and Camp Beauregard with expert restorative dental care. If you’re missing one or more teeth and need dentures, our team is here to help. Contact us online or give us a call at (318) 704-5757 to get started right away.