New Dentures? What to Expect During the First Month

Change can be difficult, to say the least. If you’ve had your dentures for years, you know you should get new ones, but you’re not looking forward to having to adjust to them. The first month of your replacement teeth could be a little uncomfortable and unfamiliar, but it is well worth your while! What will the first month with new dentures be like? Keep reading to find out!

Wearing Your Dentures

When you first receive your dentures, you need to make sure you wear them for long periods of time. In fact, your dentist may even recommend wearing them to bed at first. The more you wear your dentures, the faster you’ll become accustomed to how they feel in your mouth.

In the beginning, you may experience some discomfort as your gums acclimate to the custom dentures, but given some time and exposure through daily wear, your prosthetic teeth should feel natural within 30 days.

Talking with Dentures

Your mouth, upon having your new dentures put in, may salivate excessively. This is a normal experience, but it can make speaking more challenging. In addition to drinking more water and swallowing your extra saliva, you should get as much practice talking as you can. If necessary, you can read out loud, giving you plenty of time and repetition to become comfortable talking with your new tooth replacements.

Eating with Dentures

Especially if you have full dentures, you need to be cautious when you start eating with new dentures. You don’t want to accidentally bite down on your tongue or cheek. In the first couple of days of wearing your dentures, eat softer foods and build back up to a normal diet. Again, with practice, you’ll learn how to handle biting and chewing with your teeth without harming the rest of your mouth.

Cleaning Your Dentures

After your gums have adjusted to the feel of your new dentures, you need to start removing your dentures at nighttime. They need to soak in water or a denture cleanser overnight to give your gums a break. This also allows your saliva to help rinse off your gums while you sleep. Although your dentures will not develop cavities, plaque can still accumulate on them, potentially infecting your gums.

A month may initially feel like a long time, but in the grand scheme of things, time will pass. Soon your new teeth will feel more natural and better than your previous dentures did in the end. Sometimes change is good—especially when it comes to replacing missing teeth!

About the Author

Dr. Philip Lisk has more than 20 years of clinical experience practicing in Raleigh under his belt. In his continuing education, he has studied with the Dawson Academy, a very prestigious organization in dentistry. In addition to advanced services for dentures, he has undergone more than 90 hours of training for obstructive sleep apnea. If you are interested in getting new dentures, you may contact his office online here.