While getting new dentures can drastically improve life by making eating and smiling easier, they take some time to adjust to. Here are five tips for getting used to life with dentures.

Wear Them

They may not be very comfortable to begin with. They may even hurt and rub on your sensitive gums, but this is a necessary part of the denture process. Your dentist is expecting you to need to several adjustments, and the way he can best tell where they are rubbing uncomfortably is by visibly seeing the abraded areas in your mouth. This will help him to know which areas need to be sanded down, so don't get discouraged and wear them as much as possible. 

Be Realistically Optimistic

With new dentures, you have to learn how to talk, smile, and eat all over again. The experience will have its frustrating moments, and you may feel occasionally embarrassed by the whole process. This is natural and something everyone who gets dentures goes through this. Don't give up, and before you know it, they won't feel so awkward and foreign.

Practice Talking

With new dentures, it can take a while to get the hang of speaking. You may have a lisp or a difficult time pronouncing some words. Read the newspaper or a book aloud to help you. You can also try singing along to your favorite songs. Like just about everything else in life, practice makes perfect.

Eat The Right Way

You have to adjust how and what you eat with dentures. When you first get dentures, your mouth and gums will be uncomfortable, so you'll want to eat soft foods that are easy to chew. It can also take some time to adjust to the bite alignment, so you may end up biting your tongue a few times before you get the hang of it. Try to move your mouth and teeth straight up and down when you chew rather than swirling food around like you may with natural teeth. After you have mastered soft food, gradually begin adding foods with more texture and bite to them. Do not bite things, like a carrot, with your front teeth. This could break the seal on your upper denture, flipping it forward in your mouth. It can also damage the front teeth. You will want plenty of practice, and probably a few adjustments, before attempting to eat in public.

Wear Your Dentures At Night

While you may not want to, the more you wear your dentures, the sooner you will adjust to them. By wearing them 24-7, your body will become acclimated to the foreign object in your mouth quicker. 

For more information and tips, contact a business such as R. Troup Davis, DDS.