Dentures are great replacement teeth, but they don’t work perfectly right from the start. Most patients need a month to get used to them and become familiar with how they feel and act. It’s only then that the prosthetics do their best to help you smile, eat, speak, and more! If you’d like to know more about the thirty-day adjustment, your Barnegat dentist will gladly explain. Simply keep reading to learn how your first month with dentures will probably go.
Your First Month with Dentures: A Timeline
As you start wearing dentures for the first time, you’ll notice changes over thirty days. They can be sorted into the following periods:
The First 24 Hours
In your first twenty-four hours with dentures, your gums will likely feel sore. That’s because the pressure from your new restorations will be unfamiliar to them. To adapt, you’ll need to wear the dentures to bed – they act as a bandage for your gum tissue on the first day.
Crucially, remember only to eat soft foods during this time. Things like soup, yogurt, mashed potatoes, and smoothies won’t upset the sensitive gum tissues.
The First Two Weeks
After the first twenty-four hours, you’ll see your dentist a few times over several weeks. The first visit will let them remove your dentures without harming your gums. As for the later appointments, those will ensure the prosthetics have a comfy fit.
Often enough, patients feel dental discomfort or pain during these weeks. Some even develop sore spots on their gums from the pressure of their dentures. To avoid further aches, you could supplement meals with a protein-rich drink.
After The First Two Weeks
You should have better adjusted to your denture by the two-week mark. At that point, there’s a good chance you won’t have many sore spots. You may even be more skilled in chewing and chatting with your restorations.
To be clear, you may still lisp when speaking with the dentures. Don’t worry – this effect fades with time.
Helpful Tips on Adjusting More Quickly
If you want to adjust to dentures more quickly, follow these helpful tips:
- Take Small Bites – After the soft-food adjustment phase, cut tough items into small, bite-sized pieces. Doing so makes them easy to chew with your back teeth.
- Avoid Hard & Sticky Stuff – Hard and sticky foods that are bad for braces are also no-go’s for dentures. They can dislodge your new teeth if you try biting into them.
- Keep Practicing – As you speak with dentures, learn to overcome any potential lisp by reading aloud and keeping a list of tricky words. The practice will make speaking easier over time.
Your first month with dentures may not feel great, but the time and effort are worth it. Just manage as best you can, and you’ll soon enjoy the benefits!
About the Practice
Nu Dental of Barnegat is based in Barnegat, NJ. Led by Dr. Admasu Gizachew, our practice always aims to give each patient the smile of their dreams. We strive for that goal through quality preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, as well as excellent emergency dental care. These offerings embody our commitment to make your grin healthier and prettier than ever! For more details or to book a visit, please reach us on our website or by phone at (609)-879-0036.