Our dentures in Charleston can act as replacement teeth if you suffer from tooth loss, giving you back confidence and a more comfortable bite. They offer a customized solution for your smile, tailored to your anatomy, aesthetic preferences, and lifestyle.
However, adjusting to life with dentures can take some time. Here are some common challenges you may encounter and what you can do about them.
Soreness and Discomfort
Soreness and discomfort are often caused by your new dentures rubbing into your gums, causing pain and irritation. But as your gums and mouth get used to your new dentures, this initial soreness should gradually disappear.
Solution: Eating a soft diet will help mitigate discomforts, such as puddings, applesauce, scrambled eggs, and yogurt. Also, try the following:
- Rinsing your mouth with a saltwater solution to relieve the pain
- Massaging your gums
- Taking over-the-counter pain medication
Speaking Issues
New dentures often feel strange, making it difficult for most people to speak normally. You’ll need to familiarise your tongue and mouth muscles with the sensations of speaking. While this can take some time, be patient and keep at it. As your mouth becomes more familiar with your new dentures, you’ll return to your usual way of speaking.
Solution: Practice! Speaking regularly and singing your favorite songs help your mouth become familiar with speaking typically again.
Eating Difficulties
Many patients find it difficult to eat normally soon after getting new dentures. You may find it painful to eat some food or experience your dentures constantly slipping out while eating. If you’re experiencing this, stay patient and give your mouth time to adjust.
When your gums stop hurting and you’re more used to having something cover the roof of your mouth, start adding your usual foods; but take it slow and choose softer foods first. You'll eat normally as your mouth and gums adjust to your new dentures.
Solution: Avoid hard and sticky food in the first few weeks to minimize pressure on your gums as you chew and eat. Additionally:
- Work your way up to harder food as your mouth and gums adjust
- Remember to chew food on both sides of your mouth, which can prevent dentures from becoming unstable
- Don’t rip food with your front teeth, which can make dentures move around
- Cut all your food into pieces that are easier to chew
Slipping
Unlike teeth naturally anchored in your gums, most dentures are kept in place by various muscles in your mouth. That’s why they often slip or dislodge easily while eating or talking in the first few weeks.
During your adjustment period, your mouth, tongue, and gums are still learning to coordinate and keep them in place. Give them time to adjust correctly and be patient when repositioning them whenever they slip out.
Solution: This problem often disappears as you get used to your new dentures. If they still slip out constantly after several weeks, try denture adhesives or have them adjusted.
Excess Saliva
New dentures can sometimes make your body think that your dentures are food or a foreign object, making your saliva glands produce more saliva than usual. As your mouth adjusts to your new dentures, the glands will eventually work normally again and produce saliva at normal levels.
Solution: Be prepared for more saliva than usual by swallowing more frequently. Your mouth and saliva glands will eventually adjust to your new dentures, and this issue will disappear.
CCCR Dentistry Can Help You Adjust to Life With Dentures
As one of the best dentists in Charleston, SC, Dr. Rink provides elegant, natural-looking restorations, enhancing your smile and oral hygiene. Our offices boast a wealth of enjoyable amenities that make the Charleston Center for Cosmetic and Restorative Dentistry more akin to a spa excursion than a visit to the dentist's office. We provide warm blankets, towels and mittens, and soothing essential oils. Our innovative, cutting-edge technology includes CEREC, sedation dentistry, and cosmetic digital imaging, allowing you to get in and out of the office faster with less discomfort and more peace of mind.
Dr. Rink is accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, the South Carolina Dental Association, and the Charleston Dental Society. Contact us today to learn more about how he can help you adjust to life with dentures.
