How Long Will It Take to Adjust to New Dentures?
Dentures are an ideal solution to improve oral health, function, and appearance if you’ve lost a few or all your natural teeth. You’ll be able to smile, laugh, and eat comfortably and confidently, just as you did before losing teeth. Unlike alternative treatments like implants and bridges, dentures are less invasive (unless you get implant-supported dentures).
What is a Denture?
A denture is a dental device with artificial teeth and gums that replace one or more missing teeth. Dentures are custom-made to look, function, and feel like your natural teeth. They allow you to smile and eat comfortably and confidently, just as you did before losing teeth.
While safe and effective, dentures might feel uncomfortable and difficult to use in the initial days. They can rub and irritate your gums, causing discomfort. Since you’re not used to wearing a foreign device in your mouth, it’s normal to experience difficulties speaking, eating, and drinking with dentures. Dentures also tend to dislodge frequently, and you might experience excess saliva.
You’ll learn how to use dentures to feel normal. The adjustment period is pretty quick. Visit our dental office in Lexington for high-quality dentures.
How long will it take to get used to your dentures?
It takes four weeks to adjust to new dentures and feel normal. They should fade away by the third week. Contact your dentist if you experience severe pain or discomfort. Patients undergoing complex denture work require prolonged recovery.
After four weeks, you will speak and normally eat without difficulty or discomfort. If the dentures don’t feel right, the dentist can re-adjust them for a perfect fit. After that, frequent dental checkups are essential to ensure they are in excellent shape. With good dental care and habits, dentures averagely last for ten years.
Tips for Adjusting to New Dentures
Unfortunately, you can’t avoid the adjustment phase. Below are tips to quicken your recovery and help you quickly get used to your new dentures.
- Speaking with dentures
You might experience difficulties speaking or pronouncing some words with a new set of dentures. Fortunately, you can employ some techniques to help you improve your speech much faster. These include:
- Practice reading and speaking aloud.
- Speak slowly.
- Bite and swallow before speaking, especially if your dentures feel incorrectly positioned.
- Drink water regularly to get rid of excess saliva in the mouth.
- Eating with dentures
Since dentures don’t fit into the jawbone like dental implants, they aren’t as stable as natural teeth. Therefore, they can easily dislodge when eating and chewing. In the initial days after getting dentures, make sure you cut your food into small pieces and chew gently.
Similarly, opt for a soft diet such as soups, eggs, and soft vegetables. Chewing hard, crunchy, chewy, and sticky food items can cause the denture to dislodge or break. Chew on both sides of the mouth instead of a particular side. Completely avoid chewing with the front teeth.
Caring for Your New Dentures
Taking care of your denture will ensure they serve you for longer and keep your mouth disease-free. As far as dental hygiene is concerned, dentures must be removed and cleaned daily. Use a soft-bristled brush and a denture solution to clean your dentures to eliminate plaque and bacteria. During the night, you can soak them in a denture cleanser.
You must also clean your mouth after removing the dentures at night and before wearing them in the morning. Poor dental hygiene when using dentures can lead to serious issues like gum disease, bad breath, and other oral infections. Along with good at-home oral hygiene, be sure to visit your dentist for regular check-ups and cleanings.
Schedule an Appointment Today
Are you interested in dentures or need more tips on adjusting to new dentures in Lexington, MA? Contact Lexington Dental Group to book your appointment today.