New dentures can take around two to four weeks to settle properly. It's not unusual to experience some tenderness or discomfort at first. Here's a guide on how to prevent prolonged discomfort, and why you may experience it.
Expect Discomfort Early On
As a general rule of thumb, dental professionals are likely to tell you that adjusting to new dentures takes about 30 days, on average. You might not be keen to wait this long, but you need to be careful how quickly you try to get back to normal.
When a patient first gets dentures, it can take up to 30 days to get used to wearing the denture. During this time, patients may struggle with learning how to chew and speak with their new teeth, as well as experience soreness and pain on their gums from the denture.
Generally you should wear your dentures for at least 8 hours a day. This will give your gums and jawbone time to get used to the dentures and prevent sore spots from developing. It is best to take them out at night so that your gums can rest. You should also remove them for eating, drinking, brushing and flossing.
Common conditions you may experience at first
Many people say their dentures feel bulky and too big for their mouths. Others report that the new dentures feel too loose. Saliva production increases and your gums and jaw muscles may feel sore and tired. With time, these issues typically resolve on their own.
It can take a few weeks to adjust to dentures, but once your mouth is strong, you can eat just about any food. There will always be some foods that aren't denture-friendly, like chewing gum, popcorn, whole nuts, steak, and sticky candy.
It's normal to develop sore spots during the first few days of wearing dentures. You may also have more saliva. Gum tissue contracts as it heals. For this reason, you may need to visit our office several times so your dentures fit comfortably.
Can you perform oral sex? Of course it is. Many people are afraid to kiss another person or perform oral sex for fear that their partner – if he or she doesn't know – will notice that they have dentures.
First things first, call your dentist. They should be able to get you in for an appointment right away. After the dentist examines your mouth, they can determine which option is best for you. It may be as simple as repairing or replacing your dentures.
For example, a custom-made denture requires gums to heal for three to six months. During this time, gums will be allowed to heal and patients meet with their dentist for fittings and adjustments. This ensures that when the gums are healed and ready for the permanent dentures, they will be a perfect fit.
As the jawbone shrinks, becoming smaller in both height and width, the gum ridge it supports shrinks too. Because dentures rest on that gum ridge and are customized to fit its shape and size, dentures loosen as this happens, and for many patients, end up feeling too big for their mouths.
Dentures are meant to fit snug against your gums so you might have a sore jaw or gums and might also experience trouble speaking at first. After you receive your dentures you will have a follow up with your dentist to see how they are fitting and if there needs to be adjustments made.
Most people find it takes them about four weeks (or around a month) to adjust to their new dentures and feel completely comfortable with them. Those who undergo more comprehensive denture work will often require more time to recover and get comfortable.
Although you won't have to worry about any slipping or irritation, your dentures can dislodge if kissing gets a little out of hand. Kissing that creates suction is more likely to loosen your dentures. Pushing against your partner's mouth too hard can also cause them to move.
One of the reasons people procrastinate getting their teeth removed and replaced with dentures is because they can't stand the thought of being toothless after having all their teeth removed in preparation for dentures. Luckily, this isn't the case, and at no point during the process will you walk around without teeth.
After the soft tissues have healed and shrinkage of the underlying bone has occurred (about six months following extractions), the immediate denture must be finalized by a permanent reline or new denture. At this time, you will be charged for either a reline or a new denture, depending on your choice.
The gums and bones in our mouths change over time, which can lead to poorly fitting dentures. Poorly fitting dentures can cause problems like inflammation, sores, pain, and burning. Dentures that don't fit can be a sign of gum disease, so it's important to get checked.
Hard foods: Chewing hard foods require your jaw and dentures to apply uneven pressure. This can dislodge or damage your dentures, so avoid nuts, popcorn, apples, raw carrot sticks and corn on the cob. Tough meats: Foods that require a lot of chewing place unnecessary stress on your dentures and gums.
Doughy foods, such as breads will stick to dentures and should be eaten with liquids. When trying to eat a sandwich, cookies or any other food that is generally bitten down on with the front teeth and torn off, the denture can dislodge.
It takes time to get used to life with new dentures, but the good news is things will get easier. Start with soft foods and then introduce other foods slowly as you feel more confident. You can also use a denture adhesive like Fixodent to fix your dentures in place and make life with dentures more comfortable.