If you’re missing several teeth, ask our dentist if dentures are right for you. Complete and partial dentures are able to replace missing teeth so you can eat, smile, and talk with confidence. Continue reading to learn how to get used to your new dentures.
1. Practice reading out loud.
It’s not uncommon for patients to slur some of their words after getting dentures. It’ll take some time for your tongue, cheeks, and gums to get used to speaking around your new false teeth. Over time, you’ll get used to speaking with denture teeth and the lisp will disappear. In the meantime, we recommend reading out loud to practice pronunciation. If you have trouble saying certain words, write them down to practice them more in depth later.
Many patients are able to speak better after getting dentures. This is because your teeth play a vital role in being able to say certain sounds. If you don’t believe us, trying reading some of these words out loud. How many times do your lips or tongue touch your teeth while speaking? Getting dentures will help improve your speech so you can feel more confident in conversations with friends, family, and co-workers.
2. Know how to correct slipping dentures.
Sudden movements (like sneezing) can cause your dentures to slip. To discretely correct slipping dentures, bite down gently and swallow. Even the best dentures slip from time to time, especially when you sneeze, cough, laugh, or even smile.
If you notice your dentures slipping more than usual, schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. It’s possible that your dentures may need to be adjusted for a more comfortable fit. Our dentist always makes sure your dentures fit well before leaving our office.
3. Eat carefully.
When you start wearing new dentures, you’ll want to eat soft foods or foods cut into bite-sized pieces. For example, many patients choose to eat mashed potatoes after being fitted for dentures. As you get used to eating with dentures, you may start to gradually include tougher or chewier foods. Remember that wearing complete or partial dentures takes some getting used to, so you’ll want to ease your way into eating your normal diet.
4. Never let your dentures dry out.
Take care of your denture teeth like you would natural teeth. While natural teeth are constantly bathed in saliva, you’ll need to keep your dentures in a glass of water or denture cleaner when they aren’t in your mouth. Your dentures will crack and warp if you let them dry out.
5. Use a denture adhesive.
A denture adhesive will help your false teeth stay in place while eating, talking, and smiling. If you aren’t sure what brand to get, our dentist will be more than happy to recommend products that have worked well for other patients. Denture adhesives are sold in most supermarkets and come in either a cream or strip.
Dr. Ritzema DDS and his team are dedicated to helping patients maintain beautiful healthy smiles with dentures and other tooth replacement options. To schedule your appointment with our Grand Rapids dentist, call Complete Health Dentistry at (616) 458-7267.
