After receiving your new dentures, keep in mind that it takes about 30 days to get used to them. Some level of discomfort, as well as difficulty chewing and speaking, is to be expected in the beginning. However, we have tips to help you adjust to your dentures quickly.
In the beginning, you may feel sore spots from the pressure on your gums, especially because your mouth is not used to the dentures yet. Wearing a denture may also feel weird or unnatural at first as your body adjusts to something new.
You may also experience increased saliva production, difficulty pronouncing certain sounds, especially “s” and “f” sounds, a louder-than-normal speaking voice, and challenges with chewing. Soreness can be alleviated by swishing a lukewarm saline solution around your mouth a few times a day and taking anti-inflammatory pain medication as directed.
To get better at enunciating and speaking clearly, practice speaking out loud. Try reading a tongue twister, singing, or reading a passage while focusing on the sounds that are most difficult for you.
You may sound louder than normal because dentures alter the way sound travels from your mouth. However, you will likely sound louder to yourself than you do to others, and you should adjust with time.
In the first few weeks, stick to soft foods before introducing chewy or hard foods.