Adapting To New Dentures

Getting used to new dentures can take some time as your mouth needs time to adapt and the muscles take time to get used to the new denture. If you have worn dentures before, it may take little time for the mouth to adapt to the slight differences. If you have not worn dentures before, the muscles have to learn to control the dentures, this may take several months.

Speech
New dentures particularly if you have not worn dentures before, will change your speech. Pronouncing certain words may require practice. However, most people will quickly adapt and often this only takes a few days, rarely longer than a week.

Eating
Eating will take a little practice. Start with soft foods and cut food into small pieces. Once you start to become accustomed to chewing, introduce more of your normal food. Take things slowly, it will take time to adapt.

Sore Spots
It is not unusual to have sore areas appear after wearing the new denture for a period of time. When we fit your denture we will try and eliminate any areas that rub, however, it does not always become apparent until a few days later. Often your mouth will adapt and “harden” up to the areas, however, sometimes adjustment is needed. Initially try and persevere and rinse regularly with hot salty water, much like after an extraction. If the soreness is worsening or this does not resolve the problem, ring the practice for an appointment and we will adjust the denture for you.

Saliva
Some people find that the mouth feels dry when wearing dentures, others that the denture stimulates saliva flow and they feel that the are spitting slightly when talking. This is usually part of the adaptation process and will return to normal in a short time.

Wearing the dentures
Always remove the dentures when in bed. This will allow your gum tissues “breath” and be exposed to air reducing the risk of infections of the palate. Dentures should be cleaned and kept moist. Occasionally we will suggest wearing the denture to protect a socket after extraction. This should only be for one night.

Care of Your New Dentures
Like teeth, dentures accumulate plaque and food debris, particularly in areas where the denture is in contact with the remaining teeth and gum. In addition to the usual oral hygiene measures like tooth brushing, dentures should be cleaned regularly. Some people prefer to soak the denture in a solution such as Steradent. If possible, dentures should be removed and cleaned after every meal.

When you are not wearing the dentures, keep them moist.

Plastic dentures

• Dentures should always be cleaned over a basin of water to minimise to risk of breakage should they be dropped.
• Rinse the denture after every meal and remove debris by brushing with a soft brush with toothpaste.
• Soak the denture in a weak bleach solution e.g. baby bottle sterilising solution, “Milton” or “Dentural” for 20 minutes in the evening
• Rinse thoroughly with cold water and soak in cold water overnight

Metal and plastic
• Rinse denture after every meal and remove debris by brushing with a soft brush, toothpaste and cold water.
• Soak denture in an alkaline peroxide solution (e.g. “Steradent”) for 15 minutes in the evening. Rinse denture thoroughly with cold water and soak in cold water overnight. Do not use acid or bleach based cleansers.

Temporary soft linings
• Rinse denture after every meal with cold water.
• Soak denture in a weak bleach solution (“Dentural” or “Milton”) for 20 minutes (cold)
• Rinse thoroughly with cold water
• Do not use alkaline peroxide cleansers

Permanent soft linings
• Rinse denture after every meal and remove debris by brushing with a soft brush, toothpaste and cold water
• Soak denture in a weak bleach solution (“Dentural” or “Milton”) for 20 minutes in the evening
• Rinse denture thoroughly with cold water and soak in cold water overnight