When you get a new pair of dentures, it can take a while to adjust to the way they work and the way they feel. These tips will make the transition a little bit easier.
Getting new teeth when you have lost all or most of yours may seem like a dream come true,
but to some patients, adjusting to dentures is not as easy as they think. The fake teeth can take some getting used to before you can use them as you used your natural teeth. Here are some tips to make the process a little easier on yourself.
Dealing with Self Conscious Feelings
Often, dentures can make the wearer feel a bit self-conscious. They feel like their false teeth are incredibly obvious, and they feel like they are the only one of their friends wearing them. The fact is, if you are over the age of 40, changes are good that you have friends who also have a few false teeth. This is much more common than you might think.
Also, false teeth are not nearly as noticeable as you think they are. Most people cannot tell you are wearing them, unless your dentist did a terrible job of matching them to your natural teeth and mouth shape. While you might feel self conscious, no one else is probably even aware of your new teeth, unless you told them.
Learning to Talk
If you ever wore a retainer or braces, then you know that talking can feel a bit different when you have a device in your mouth. It is the same with false teeth. It may take you a little while to learn to pronounce certain words. If you find some words to be troublesome, try repeating them over and over in private. If you find that your dentures are clicking when you talk, consider slowing down your speech a bit. Give yourself a few weeks to get used to talking with them.
Dealing with Looseness
Some people experience a feeling that their false teeth are loose in their mouth. This happens because the muscles of the cheek and tongue have to keep them in place. Until they learn to do so, you may have this problem. Make sure that you use denture adhesive while you are learning to wear them. This will help keep them in place. You may not need the adhesive after your mouth has adjusted.
Dealing with Denture Slips
Dentures sometimes slip when you smile, cough, or laugh. This is normal, but it can be frustrating at first. To put them back in place, all you need to do is bite down gently and swallow. They should reposition themselves. If you use denture adhesive, you may not experience as much of a problem with this.
Remember, you need to give yourself some time to adjust to your new dentures, but once you have, you will wonder how you ever got along without them. Just like your regular teeth once were, your new ones will become such a normal part of your life that you will no longer think about them. Simply give yourself the time you need, and soon you will be chewing, talking, and laughing like you always have, just with new teeth.
