Are Dentures Hard to Get Used to?

Serving Patients in Vancouver WA

For most, dentures are an easy adjustment if they’re made and fit properly. There will be a period of time when you need to practice speaking and eating. Patients from Lewis Family & Implant Dentistry usually get used to their dentures after a few weeks.

Read more common questions we get below about getting used to dentures.

Will Dentures Feel Normal?

Eventually, yes. But dentures will not feel normal in the beginning, especially if you’re a first-time denture wearer. Dentures are a great tooth replacement solution. They can boost your quality of life and improve your smile. But, as with any change, dentures are something many patients need time to get used to.

What to Expect with Your New Dentures

When you first insert your dentures, you may experience minor irritation. This is completely normal, and the pain should go away as you become accustomed to them. Below is a list of issues many first-time denture-wearers experience.

• Gum irritation
• Soreness of the mouth
• An increase in saliva
• The feeling that your dentures are too wide
• Gagging
• Slurred speech

Keep in mind, these symptoms are common, and they will typically go away after a few weeks until your tongue and muscles learn to hold them in place. Eating and talking with your dentures may also take up to several months to fully master.

How to Make Your Dentures Feel ‘Normal’

• Gradually increase your wear time: wear your dentures for a couple of hours at a time, gradually increasing your wear time each day.
• Exercise your mouth: you can strengthen your cheek muscles by holding a smile on your face for at least 10 seconds at a time. Stronger cheeks will help your dentures wear more comfortably and make it easier for you to eat.
• Choose the right foods: eat softer foods in smaller portions and take your time eating, using both sides of your mouth. As you become more comfortable with your dentures, you can gradually incorporate harder foods. Avoid gum and other sticky foods and drink plenty of fluids.
• Practice talking: read or sing aloud to help you get used to talking with dentures in your mouth.

Oral discomfort is very common for denture wearers. It’s important to keep in mind that every patient is different — each with their own pain tolerance and perseverance levels. Most denture patients feel ‘normal’ with their dentures after two months. If you continue to feel discomfort after two months, contact your dentist. They may be able to adjust your dentures, ensuring a more comfortable fit.

Are Dentures Comfortable?

When you first receive your dentures, you may experience minor discomfort and/ or irritation. You may even gag. This is completely normal, but after a few weeks, they’ll become comfortable, and you’ll no longer experience pain.

You may have seen or heard about someone’s dentures falling straight out of their mouth. Dentures have a stigma of being very fake-looking and uncomfortable, but technology has come a long way in making dentures very secure and comfortable.

Will Dentures Hurt?

Muscle soreness in the mouth and minor irritation are completely normal for both first-time denture-wearers and those who are getting a new set. If you’ve had tooth extractions, then immediately had your dentures inserted, you may especially feel some soreness as your gums haven’t had time to heal. In around two weeks to a month, most of your soreness should be gone.

Proper Fit Leads to Comfort

The main reason traditional dentures cause pain or discomfort is their fit. If dentures are poorly fit, they may slide back and forth or add uneven pressure to your gums. This uneven pressure and sliding will not only cause pain and irritation but will also accelerate bone loss. Without natural teeth, your body will begin to remove the bone in your jaw that used to support your teeth.

This is why, if you wear traditional, removable dentures, you may need to have them adjusted occasionally. While your dentist may already be monitoring your dentures, if you feel discomfort or movement with them, you’ll want to contact them. They’ll be able to diagnose what exactly is going on and adjust them if needed.

Fixed Dentures Can Provide the Most Comfort

The best way to reduce gum pain associated with denture movement and positioning is by selecting fixed dentures. This is because fixed dentures don’t rest on the gums. They are held in place by dental implants, which are surgically placed in your jawbone.

Fixed dentures are not only exceptionally secure, but they also function like real teeth and are designed to last a lifetime. They also preserve jawbone health. You shouldn’t experience any pain from fixed, implant-supported dentures.

Will Dentures Affect My Speech?

Yes, many new denture-wearers have a difficult time talking at first, especially if you are using removable dentures.

Traditional, removable dentures have a much larger impact on your speech because they can move. While they’re designed and custom-fitted to your exact specifications, removable dentures aren’t permanently attached to your mouth.

Fixed dentures, on the other hand, are known to improve a patient’s speech because of their stability. Fixed dentures or implant-supported dentures are anchored to your gums using implants that are surgically placed into your jawbone. These types of dentures have no plastic or metal clasps to deal with, so they’ll feel more natural. While implant-supported dentures are anchored, they can be removed for cleaning.

To help make talking with your dentures easier, practice! You may want to speak in front of a mirror, read aloud, or even sing. These practice exercises will help you learn how to form certain words, making you more comfortable speaking with your dentures.

Are Dentures Easy to Wear?

Yes, dentures are very easy to wear, especially after the initial adjustment period. With both traditional and permanent dentures, you simply take them out each night for cleaning and replace them in the morning. The main difference with permanent dentures is that they are retained in your jaw by dental implants, so they feel and function like natural teeth.

In the early phases of wearing your dentures, you may have trouble eating or speaking, but as you get used to your new dentures, your chewing and talking will improve. To make the transition easier, you can practice eating with soft foods first, then work your way up to harder foods. You can practice speaking, too. Talk in front of a mirror, read aloud, or sing to help regain confidence when you speak. Keep in mind it may only take a few days of good practice to overcome your eating limitations and the ability to speak clearly again.

What Can You Eat with Dentures?

You can generally eat anything except for gum and other sticky foods. But keep in mind, eating with dentures is a lot different than eating with natural teeth, especially if you have removable dentures.

When you first get your dentures, it may be painful and uncomfortable to eat. You may want to focus on eating soft foods like mashed potatoes, pasta, and eggs until you become comfortable with your dentures. Then, you can start incorporating harder foods. You may also want to consider cutting your food into smaller, bite-sized pieces or strips. This will allow you to use both sides of your mouth and help you chew more slowly.

Biting nuts and raw vegetables is a challenge most denture-wearers experience. Biting down with the front of your dentures on something hard, such as a raw carrot, may put so much pressure on the front of your dentures that the back becomes loose. Cutting your vegetables into small pieces and using the back of your dentures may help prevent this. A small amount of denture adhesive can help hold your dentures in place, or for complete security, you may want to consider permanent dentures, which use dental implants.

Can You Sleep With Dentures?

Yes, you can sleep with your dentures, but it’s often recommended that you remove your dentures nightly. This allows your gum tissues and jawbone to rest from the pressure of your dentures. Over time, as you wear your dentures, your gum tissue will shrink from not being stimulated.

If you need to wear your dentures for longer than 24 hours, say for a social event, you’ll want to find time during the day to properly clean your dentures. Some dentists may have patients wear a healing denture while they sleep, for the first two nights if they had several extractions. But after that healing and adjustment period, the dentures should be removed every night before bed and stored in clean water.

Comfortable Dentures by Lewis Family & Implant Dentistry

Have any more questions? Our team at Lewis Family & Implant Dentistry is here to help. Dentures are the recommended solution for those with missing teeth, especially if they impact your quality of life. Using the latest dental technology, we’ve been helping residents fit into new dentures that perfectly fit their smile.

Reach out to us today to schedule a consultation appointment and learn how dentures can transform your life.