Wearing a denture for the first time, many people feel it is bulky, awkward for speech and difficult for eating. This is a common adjustment period that you can get through gradually.
- A new removable denture often feels bulky and produces extra saliva, slurred speech and sore gums in the first few weeks.
- Start with soft food, chew slowly and spread food over both sides of the jaw.
- Reading aloud slowly each day helps you pronounce clearly with a denture.
- Lasting sore gums, a loose denture or a bite that does not fit are reasons to return for adjustment.
When a new denture is delivered, many people feel pleased but soon find it uncomfortable: the mouth feels full, a lot of saliva is produced, speech is slurred, and eating one meal may leave the gums sore. All of this is part of the adjustment period, which usually lasts a few weeks.
Why does a new denture feel uncomfortable?
- The muscles of the lips, cheeks and tongue need time to get used to something unfamiliar in the mouth.
- You produce more saliva at first because the body treats the denture as a foreign object.
- The gums and jawbone take pressure in a new way, so they can be sore in one or two places.
Getting used to eating
- Start with soft, small pieces of food such as porridge, soup, eggs and soft cooked vegetables.
- Chew slowly and spread the food evenly over both sides so the denture does not tip.
- Avoid very hard, chewy and sticky food in the first weeks.
- After a few weeks, increase the firmness of the food gradually once you are used to it.
Practising speech with a denture
Slurred speech is very common in the first days. You can practise by reading aloud slowly a passage from a newspaper or book each day, pronouncing each word clearly. Usually within a few days to one or two weeks, your speech becomes natural.
When should you return to have the denture adjusted?
- Sore gums or a red ulcer at one fixed spot that does not heal within a few days.
- The denture is loose and falls easily when speaking or eating.
- The bite does not fit, with one side touching first.
See what to do when a removable denture is loose or makes the gums sore. Do not adjust the denture yourself at home, since it is easy to damage.
Daily denture care
Take the denture out to clean after meals and let the mouth rest at night. See how to care for a removable denture properly and whether to take a denture out when sleeping.
When should you visit Ky Hoa Dental Clinic?
Nha Khoa Ky Hoa is at 266A - 268, 3 Thang 2 Street, Hoa Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. If the denture hurts or is loose, please come so the dentist can check and adjust it. You can walk in during opening hours, or call the hotline 028.3868.1097 to ask about quieter times first.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get used to a new denture?
Usually a few weeks to get used to eating and speaking. If sore gums or looseness continue, please return for adjustment.
Why is my speech slurred with a new denture?
Because the tongue and lip muscles need time to adapt. Reading aloud slowly each day helps you pronounce more clearly.
Should I adjust a sore denture myself?
No. Adjusting it yourself can easily damage it. Please come so the dentist can check and adjust it.