The First Month: Adjusting to Your New Dentures

Have you had missing teeth for years? Are you worried about having a complete smile again? The thought of getting dentures may be both intimidating and exciting. You can’t wait to see what you look like with realistic teeth, but you also worry about how it’ll feel. How long will it take to get used to your replacements? How can you survive the initial adjustment period and enjoy your dentures? Keep reading to find out!

The First 24 Hours

After your dentist puts your dentures in, they need to stay in your mouth for a full 24 hours. This includes while you sleep. During this time, you may develop minor sores, and you may salivate more than usual—these are perfectly normal reactions. After one day, you’ll return to the dentist’s office so they can see where you have sore spots and pressure points and then make adjustments to make the dentures fit more comfortably.

Following this first whole day with dentures, you should always remove your replacement teeth while you sleep because gums need a break from dentures. Keep in mind, also, that you may need to return to the office several times to make sure the denture is perfectly fitted to your mouth, especially if you’ve recently had a tooth extraction.

First 2 Weeks

It can take time to adjust to wearing dentures. Not only must you get used to simply having them in your mouth, but you may also have to “relearn” how to eat and talk. At first, you should start by eating softer foods like mashed potatoes and yogurt. As tolerated, you can move up to steamed vegetables and pasta and build back up to basically a normal diet.

If you talk with a lisp at the beginning, keep track of which sounds and words give you trouble and practice speaking by reading out loud from a book. If problems persist, tell your dentist. They may be able to make adjustments to help you speak more normally.

After 30 Days

At this point, you should feel comfortable and secure in your new dentures. Usually after about a year or two, many denture wearers require relining either because the gum tissue changes or because of the wear and tear on the dentures. After about five to seven years, most dentures need to be replaced with new ones.

Although getting used to new dentures can take some time, the confident feeling you get from them makes this adjustment period well worthwhile. With a whole smile again, you can have better self-esteem and a more nutritious diet, so take the plunge, start the process, and get dentures now!

About the Author

Dr. Chitra Naik has been practicing dentistry in Flint for nearly 30 years. In her practice, she is happy to accept most dental insurance, including state-funded insurance plans, and she loves helping patients restore confidence in their smiles. If you are interested in learning more about dentures and the treatment process, you may schedule an appointment with Dr. Naik online or call our office at 810-235-5422.