How Do You Get Used to Wearing Dentures?

Our Grand Rapids dentists may recommend dentures to replace missing teeth. Yet, it’s important to understand that there’s a transitional period after placement where you’re still becoming accustomed to wearing dentures.

For instance, it’s not uncommon for people to lisp until they get used to speaking around dentures. Patients also may not realize that it’s still important to protect their gum health even with false teeth.

 

Here are a few helpful tips for how to get used to wearing your new dentures.

For the Best Dentures Experience, Our Dentists Recommend:

1. Prioritizing Your Gum Health

Even if you have full dentures, it’s important that you continue to brush your gums. Otherwise, food particles and plaque will build up on the surface of your gums and increase your risk of gingivitis. While gingivitis is reversible, the same can’t be said once it progresses into periodontitis, a chronic, long-term condition.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 47.2% of Americans aged 30 and older have periodontal disease. Don’t be one of them.

Since your dentures sit on top of your gums, you’ll want to do everything you can to avoid any stage of periodontal disease. Our dentists recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a non-abrasive toothpaste to help stimulate gums and keep them healthy.

2. Brushing Your Dentures Daily

Much like how you’d brush your natural teeth, denture teeth should be brushed in the same way. If you have partial dentures, you’ll need to make sure you also take care of the remaining teeth in your smile by brushing at least twice a day and flossing once daily.

If you don’t brush your dentures, bacteria will build up and subsequently cause bad breath. Neglecting denture care can also discolor or stain your false teeth. Our dentists will make sure you understand how to properly care for your new dentures before leaving our Grand Rapids dental office so you can take control of your oral health.

3. Keeping Your Dentures Hydrated

When your dentures aren’t in your mouth, they should be submerged in a glass of water or cleanser. Because natural teeth are constantly bathed in saliva, you’ll need to make sure you never let your full or partial dentures dry out or they will crack and warp.

4. Practicing Talking or Singing

Talking with a lisp is normal while getting used to new dentures will take some time for your lips, cheeks, and tongue to get used to speaking around a new oral appliance. We recommend keeping a running list of words that give you difficulty. Later, you can practice these words so you can become more comfortable speaking while your dentures are in place.

Once you’ve been wearing your full or partial dentures for some time, the lisp will disappear. Our dentists suggest reading out loud from one of your favorite books or singing along to a song in the meantime.

5. Knowing How to Correct Slipping Dentures

Your dentures may slip occasionally when you sneeze, cough, laugh, or smile. When you feel your dentures slipping, gently bite down and swallow. Doing this will help you discretely adjust your dentures while in public.

If you notice your dentures slipping more than usual, you’ll need to schedule an appointment with one of our family dentists as soon as possible. They’ll be able to adjust the fit of your dentures, so they look natural and fit comfortably.

Ask Our Dentists for Help

Our dentists in Grand Rapids, MI, want to help you restore your smile after tooth loss. We also want you to confidently speak, smile, and laugh with dentures. Following the tips above should assist you but if you have additional questions, please feel free to reach out. To request an appointment, call Contemporary Family Dental at (616) 209-3969.

This blog post has been updated.