Getting Used to Your New Dentures: How to Speed up the Process

Getting dentures for the first time can be nothing short of a revelation. Foods that were previously off-limits can now be enjoyed with ease… or at least they can be once you've gotten used to your new dentures. Getting used to your dentures can take a little bit of time, and this is perfectly natural. You have something in your mouth that feels like a foreign object (at least at first), and you might find yourself producing more saliva and even gulping as you instinctively try to swallow this object. So what are some of the ways you can speed up the process and get used to your new dentures as soon as possible?

Practise Makes Perfect

Sometimes time is all it takes to get used to something, so try to keep your dentures in for as long as possible. Put them in as soon as you wake up and remove them just before bed. Don't be tempted to take them out just because you don't happen to need them at that particular moment. The longer they're in your mouth, the sooner you'll get used to them. It's really all about practising having your dentures in your mouth while you do certain activities such as eating, drinking or even speaking.

Slow and Steady

Don't go biting into a juicy steak the moment your dentures are fitted. Eating food that is too hard, too soon can dislodge your dentures. You can certainly begin to enjoy all these hard chewy foods again, but you need to work your way up to them and only eat them once you've become used to chewing with your dentures. Start with foods that have a noticeable density and yet are not too hard, such as roast chicken breasts and cooked vegetables.

The Advantages of Adhesive

Your dentist might suggest some form of denture adhesive to keep your dentures in place. Some denture users prefer to use adhesive on an ongoing basis, whereas others might find adhesive to be unnecessary once they get used to their new teeth. There are a wide variety of adhesives available, and adhesive strips are the easiest to apply. They resemble double-sided tape and are applied to the denture before being positioned in your mouth. Adhesive paste offers the most versatility and can applied as thin or thick as you prefer. A bit of trial and error is to be expected until you learn to apply the correct amount for your preferred fit. Opt for a non-water soluble adhesive so that thin applications won't be weakened by saliva.

One Simple Click

If after time you're still not used to the sensation of having dentures in your mouth, there's a straightforward surgical solution. Talk to your dentist about the possibility of denture stabilisation implants. These are small bolts that are implanted into your gums, allowing the dentures to simply click into place. These implants will work with your existing dentures, and the surgery is over within a couple of hours. The recovery time is minimal and you will be eating normally within the next two days.

Contact a technician from a clinic like Emergency Denture Repairs for more information on how you can make sure your dentures are fitting properly. This will ensure you get used to them more quickly.

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