So you’ve bitten the bullet and decided to improve your smile with dentures, good for you –  you deserve a fabulous smile!

With the advances in technology and fabrications, dentures are a fantastic solution for a lot of people whose natural teeth have declined. Life has looked up for so many of our patients whose teeth failed prematurely.

Making the transition from your natural teeth to dentures can be a big adjustment,  there are lots of positives about your great new smile, but it will take a little getting used to.  Remember to communicate regularly and honestly with your practitioner throughout the process and be patient with yourself, things will settle.

Whether you are wearing partial or full dentures, it’s going to take your mouth a little time to get used to accommodating your new smile. Here are a few tips from us to get you through the adjustment:

1. Be realistic with your expectations

Your denture is new, it’ll feel foreign for a while. It will take your body and your brain time to adjust to the prosthesis. In time and as you get used to it, this odd sensation will settle. You might take a while to be comfortable speaking and eating for instance, so best get some practice in at home before you book your first meal at a restaurant with company!  You may find you over salivate initially, this will abate over time also.

Patience is important. While you get used to wearing your denture, you may find that minor sore spots develop. That’s quite natural and nothing a visit to your practitioner can’t fix. It’s also an idea to build up the length of time you wear your denture for or to give your mouth and jaw a rest from the denture from time to time.

2. Food Glorious Food!

Try not to forgo nutritious foods for soft processed foods during this time. We recommend you eat smaller bites of softer, readily chewable foods –  and build up to your steak when you are practiced at eating with your dentures.

3. Sing! 

You’ll need to become accustomed to talking with your dentures. A tried and true way to practice forming words is through song.  Sing along to some of your favourite tunes as a way of practicing how to get your mouth around words and phrases. The slower cadence of song and knowing what lyric line comes next will be a great way to practice before your first public oration. 

4. Face yoga

Your cheek muscles work while you chew and help to collect your food to swallow. Toned face muscles will really help with control over mealtime when you are wearing your dentures. Try some exercises even before you get your dentures so you’re ready to go once they are fitted. You’d be surprised how many facial exercise programs there are available for free on the internet! 

Just a note here, if you have ongoing cheek pain, there may need to be an adjustment to your denture. Schedule an appointment with your practitioner if you’re unsure or experiencing lingering discomfort.

5  Adhesives

Talk to your practitioner about the adhesives they recommend and experiment to see what works well for you. You don’t need much – and they can help to relieve irritation in the first days.  If you think there is something in the fit that needs adjustment, then make sure you talk to your practitioner at your next visit.

6  Follow your treatment plan

Your practitioner will have a follow-up plan for your post-extraction and fitting of your dentures. As with natural teeth, it’s important for your oral and general health that you attend your appointments as set out by your practitioner in your treatment plan.  Once your dentures are comfortable is not the time to forget about your ongoing oral health. For the best health options for you and your denture, maintain your regular visit schedule to your practitioner. Keep up  good oral hygiene at home, get your denture regularly checked and once you’ve settled in with your new smile, the world is your oyster again.

More articles

Do you have a question?

Get in touch with us and our friendly team members
will answer any questions you have.