It will take a bit of time to get use to your new denture, particularly if it’s your first. They should, however, become comfortable and functional with time. Make an appointment as soon as you develop any sores, change in fit, or any other problem you would like us to address.
Speaking: at first you will have some difficulty with speaking, and this is to be expected. Some people describe this as trying to talk with a “mouth full of marbles”. Be patient; you will quickly adapt with practice and soon you will find you cannot speak properly without your denture. There is no way to predict how long this will take, each patient adapts at a different rate.
Eating: eating takes practice as well. The important thing to remember is that you do not chew with your denture as you did when you had teeth. Natural teeth chew in an up and down motion. Denture teeth, on the other hand, use a side to side motion to mash down the food. Always cut your food into small pieces for more effective denture chewing. It is unpredictable how well you will adapt to eating. Some patients chew just about anything whereas others find they are limited in how well they can chew. Improvement comes with practice, time, and a bit of patience.
Give Them A Break: Yes, you can wear your dentures at night, but it is preferred that they be removed. You should remove your dentures at night, and this will give your gums and bone a chance to relax from the pressure of the denture during the day.
Denture Fit:
Good quality control is critical to ensure the denture fits and looks natural in the patient’s mouth. No two dentures will be alike; even two sets of dentures made for the same person will not be exactly alike because they are manufactured in custom molds that must be broken to extract the denture. After the molding process is completed, the fine details of the denture are added by hand. This step is necessary to ensure the teeth look natural and fit properly.
The quality of the denture’s fit can be controlled in two ways. Relining is a process by which the sides of the denture that contacts the gums are resurfaced. Such adjustments are necessary because the dental impressions used to make dentures cause the gums to move. As a result, new dentures may not fit properly. Also, over time bone and gum tissues can shift, altering the fit of the denture. Rebasing is used to refit a denture by replacing or adding to the base material of the saddle. This process is required when the denture base degenerates or no longer extends into the proper gum areas. Most patients require relining or rebasing approximately five to eight years after initial placement of the dentures.
Your denture will “settle in” after a short time and should fit well. Adjustments to the denture is common. Upper dentures usually fit snugly and stay in with suction. The lower denture, however, does not develop this suction due to different shape of the lower jaw. The lower tends to “float”. You will learn with time how to help hold the loser stable by the way you use your mouth while eating, speaking, and resting. Once again, this takes time and it is not possible to predict how well each patient will adapt. Denture adhesives can help but we recommend you not use them during the first few weeks of wearing your new denture.
Caring for your denture:
Removable full dentures require proper care to keep them clean, free from stains and looking their best. For good denture care:
Remove and rinse dentures after eating. Run water over your dentures to remove food debris and other loose particles. You may want to place a towel on the counter or in the sink or put some water in the sink so the dentures won’t break if you drop them.
Handle your dentures carefully. Be sure you don’t bend or damage the plastic or the clasps when cleaning.
Clean your mouth after removing your dentures. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush on natural teeth and gauze or a soft toothbrush to clean your tongue, cheeks and roof of your mouth (palate). If used, remove any remaining denture adhesive from your gums.
Brush your dentures at least daily. Remove and gently clean your dentures daily. Soak and brush them with a soft-bristled brush and nonabrasive denture cleanser to remove food, plaque and other deposits. If you use denture adhesive, clean the grooves that fit against your gums to remove any remaining adhesive. Don’t use denture cleansers inside your mouth.
Soak dentures overnight. Most types of dentures need to stay moist to keep their shape. Place the dentures in water or a mild denture-soaking solution overnight. Check with your dentist about properly storing your dentures overnight. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on cleaning and soaking solutions.
Rinse dentures thoroughly before putting them back in your mouth, especially if using a denture soaking solution. These solutions can contain harmful chemicals that cause vomiting, pain or burns if swallowed.
Schedule regular dental checkups. Your dentist will recommend how often to visit to have your dentures examined and professionally cleaned. Your dentist can help ensure a proper fit to prevent slippage and discomfort, and also check the inside of your mouth to make sure it’s healthy.
See your dentist if you have a loose fit. See your dentist promptly if your dentures become loose. Loose dentures can cause irritation, sores and infection.
You typically should avoid:
Abrasive cleaning materials. Avoid stiff-bristled brushes, strong cleansers and harsh toothpaste, as these are too abrasive and can damage your dentures.
Whitening toothpastes. Toothpastes advertised as whitening pastes often contain peroxide, which does little to change the color of denture teeth.
Bleach-containing products. Don’t use any bleaching products because these can weaken dentures and change their color. Don’t soak dentures with metal attachments in solutions that contain chlorine because it can tarnish and corrode the metal.
Hot water. Avoid hot or boiling water that could warp your dentures.
