What To Expect With New Dentures

Getting dentures in Modesto is a great way to restore your smile and your bite after you’ve lost most or all of your teeth. But adjusting to them can take some time, and you may be wondering what will happen during this process. In this blog from Downey Park Family Dentistry, we’ll discuss some of the basics, and help you learn more about what to expect.

What To Expect As You Adjust To Your New Dentures

At first, your dentures may feel strange and you may have trouble talking and eating normally. This is normal. It will take time to adjust to your new smile. Your cheeks, tongue, gums, and the muscles of your face have to get used to how your dentures feel.

You may also experience some issues like gum irritation and sore spots on your gums, and excess saliva production as you adjust to your new teeth. You may have difficulties pronouncing certain words and eating some foods, and your dentures may feel a bit loose or slip out of place occasionally.

How Long Does It Take To Adjust To My New Smile?

It usually takes about a month to fully adjust to your dentures, and most of the symptoms mentioned above will be dramatically reduced within 2-3 weeks. After about a month, your dentures should feel pretty natural, and you should not be experiencing any pain or irritation. 

Your dentures should also fit properly into your mouth, and they should not be loose. If they still don’t feel like they fit right and are loose, you may need to see Dr. Corey Acree to have them adjusted. This is common, since both your gums and dentures may change slightly after your final denture placement.

How Can I Make The Process Easier?

Want to make sure that you adjust to your dentures quickly? Here are a few tips that may make it easier for you to get used to your new teeth:

• Start slow and eat the right foods – Stick to a diet of mostly soft foods for the first few weeks. These are much easier to chew. Avoid sticky foods that can get stuck into your dentures or dislodge them, and tough, chewy foods that take a lot of chewing, like steak.
  
  
• Cut tougher foods into small pieces – Once you start to eat tougher, harder foods, cut them into small pieces before you chew. This makes it easier to eat them with your new dentures.
  
  
• Practice talking with your new dentures – You can talk or sing to yourself to get used to how your new dentures feel, and practice certain words that may be more difficult for you to say with your new teeth. This will help you build confidence and familiarity with how your new teeth affect your speech.
  
  
• Be patient when your dentures slip – Slipping is normal and will decrease over time. Reposition your dentures if they do slip. As your mouth gets used to your dentures, the slipping should go away. If this continues, you may need an adjustment in our office.  You can also consider using denture adhesive to help them stay in place.
  
  
• Come to all scheduled follow-ups – If your dentist in Modesto has scheduled you for a follow-up at Downey Park Family Dentistry, make sure you come in as scheduled. Follow-ups are important for checking on your oral health, tracking your recovery progress, and making sure your new dentures fit properly. 

Need Dentures In Modesto? Contact Us To Get The Help You Need

A new smile is just a click or a call away. At Downey Park Family Dentistry, helping patients restore their smile is one of our favorite things.  If you’ve lost one, several, or all of your teeth, we’re here to help you eat, speak, and smile once again. Contact us online or give us a call at (209) 529-0674 to schedule a consultation and see if dentures in Modesto are right for you.