Getting used to new dentures: practical tips

New dentures may feel large, tight, or strange at first. Your lips, cheeks, tongue, chewing muscles and speech must all learn to deal with the prosthesis again. That takes time. Most discomforts decrease step by step, but the duration varies per person and per type of prosthesis.

Important to know: Getting used to a denture does not mean putting up with persistent pain. A pressure point or irritating border can often be relieved with a small adjustment. Please contact us if unsure.

What can you notice at first?

a full mouth or the feeling that the denture is very large;
more saliva than normal, or a dry mouth;
different sounding letters, lisping or speaking less clearly;
difficulty in biting and chewing;
movement of the lower prosthesis in particular;
tender spots or pressure points;
tired jaw muscles;
an altered taste or temperature perception;
a different appearance of lips, mouth, and face.

These changes are not surprising. Your brain and mouth muscles must learn to recognize and control the new shape. Therefore, do not expect that everything will feel the same on the first day as it would with your own teeth or your old dentures.

An approximate timeline

The first days

You are still very aware of the denture in your mouth. Speaking and eating can feel unfamiliar, and tender areas may develop. Start gently, follow our individual wearing instructions and note where you have discomfort. Particularly with first or immediate dentures, healing and swelling can affect the fit.

The first weeks

Your tongue and chewing muscles learn to keep the denture in place better. Speaking usually becomes more and more natural and you can gradually increase your diet. Sometimes one or more minor corrections are necessary. This is part of aftercare and does not mean that the prosthesis was made incorrectly.

The months that followed

The feeling usually becomes more familiar. After tooth extraction, the jaws clearly change shape in the first few months. An immediate or immediate denture may therefore become looser and need to be adjusted or filled later. With a permanent prosthesis, periodic checks remain important, because the jaw and mucous membrane can slowly change afterwards.

This time frame is a general impression and not a hard term. Your oral situation, health, muscle function, saliva, previous experience and type of prosthesis determine how quickly the habituation progresses.

Learning to eat with dentures

Chewing with a denture works differently than with natural teeth. Give yourself time to learn a new technique.

Start with soft foods. Think of mashed potatoes, soft vegetables, pasta, fish, egg, minced meat, yoghurt and soft fruit.
Make small pieces. Cut the food in advance; do not try to bite off a large piece with your front teeth in the beginning.
Chew gently on both sides. Distribute small amounts of food left and right. This helps keep the prosthesis more stable.
Build up slowly. Only add firmer foods when softer foods go well.
Take your time. Eating quickly or making large bites is more likely to cause movement or pressure.

Be careful initially with very hard, chewy, or sticky foods, such as hard crusts, nuts, tough meats, and sticky candies. Implant-retained removable dentures often provide more grip, but the chewing technique also takes some getting used to.

Learn to speak more clearly

The tongue touches the teeth, palate and denture when speaking. A small change in shape can therefore temporarily affect certain sounds. This usually gets better quickly.

read aloud from five to ten minutes every day;
speak a little more slowly and finish words consciously;
practice words with sounds that are difficult, for example s, f, t and d;
sing along to music or say out loud what you are doing;
take a short break when the jaw muscles become tired.

Does speaking remain difficult after a reasonable adjustment period or do you constantly hear a tap when you speak? Then let us check the position of the teeth, bite and space for the tongue.

Increased saliva, dry mouth or gagging

The mouth may initially experience a new denture as a foreign object and temporarily produce more saliva. Swallow slowly and regularly; this usually decreases on its own. With a dry mouth, dentures may not stay in place as well and the mucous membrane may become irritated more quickly. Discuss persistent mouth dryness with us, especially if you are taking medication.

Gagging can occur because the mouth still has to get used to it, because of tension or because a rim extends too far. Try to breathe calmly through your nose and divert your attention. If the complaint persists or if you are unable to wear the prosthesis, please contact us. Do not file the rear edge yourself.

Pressure sores and pain

Slight pressure or muscle fatigue may occur during adjustment. You do not have to accept sharp pain, a wound or a spot that is getting worse. We can usually see where the prosthesis is pressing too much and correct it in a very targeted manner.

never file, sand, bend or grind the prosthesis yourself;
do not place cotton wool, wipes or self-applied lining under the dentures;
do not alternately use an old prosthesis without discussing this with us;
If possible, wear the prosthesis again for some time before the check, so that the pressure point is visible.

Are you unable to eat or sleep because of the pain, is there significant swelling, does a wound continue to bleed or do you feel ill? Please contact the practice or the practitioner who performed the procedure the same day.

A first or immediately placed denture

When teeth and molars have been extracted and the prosthesis is placed immediately, it initially also acts as protection for the wounds. The initial wearing, cleaning and nighttime instructions may therefore differ from the general advice. Do not simply remove immediately placed dentures from your mouth if you have agreed that they should remain in place.

After extraction, the jaw and gums change rapidly. The prosthesis does not change and can therefore become looser over time. Temporary adjustments, a soft layer or later a more durable relining may be necessary. We guide you through every step and assess when the mouth has healed sufficiently.

Plate or frame prosthesis

A partial denture can initially put pressure on the gums or on the teeth on which it needs support. Hooks and edges also feel strange to the tongue at first. Practice taking it in and out exactly as we have shown. Do not bite the denture into place with force and never bend metal brackets yourself.

Your natural teeth remain important. A changed bite, pain in a supporting tooth, a loose clasp or a metal framework that does not seat fully should be checked.

Implant-retained removable dentures on implants

Implant-retained removable dentures provide more support, but the stud attachments, bar and clicking in and out also require some getting used to. Place the prosthesis directly above the attachments and use the technique we have shown. Do not force the implant-retained removable denture if it does not fit properly.

Implant-retained removable dentures should click firmly into place, but should also remain removable for cleaning. Does the hold change, does one side no longer click properly or does a part feel painful or loose? Have this assessed. Wear of plastic inserts or mounting parts may require maintenance.

The lower denture often feels more mobile

A complete upper denture usually has a larger support surface and can have a greater suction effect due to the closure on the palate. There is less space in the lower jaw and the tongue, cheeks and floor of the mouth move constantly. That is why the lower denture often requires more practice.

Do not attempt to continuously control or push the prosthesis with the tongue. Speaking calmly and chewing evenly help the muscles learn a stable pattern. If the lower denture remains very loose, we will assess the fit, bite and possible treatment options.

Use of adhesives

Adhesive paste can sometimes provide temporary extra security, but should not hide a fit problem. Do not use more and more adhesive as the denture loosens. First have it checked why the hold has changed. Only use an adhesive in accordance with the instructions for use and our personal advice.

Self-confidence and appearance

Getting used to is not just physical. Your smile, lip support and facial expression may be different than you are used to. It is normal that you pay a lot of attention to this first. Try wearing the prosthesis at home in quiet situations, talk to someone you feel comfortable with, and increase activities step by step.

Shame, tension or fear may be discussed. During aftercare we not only listen to the fit, but also to what the change will do to you. Our goal is for you to be able to eat, speak and laugh with confidence again.

When to contact us?

a pressure sore, wound or pain persists or increases;
you can barely eat or speak despite some practice;
the prosthesis is visibly crooked, keeps coming loose or chattering;
you continue to gag;
a plate or frame prosthesis no longer fits properly;
a implant-retained removable denture no longer clicks in or out properly;
the prosthesis breaks, cracks or a tooth becomes loose;
you are unsure whether what you are feeling is still part of normal adjustment.

You do not have to wait until the next scheduled check. A small adjustment in time can prevent a lot of inconvenience. Via appointment and contact you can reach us.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to get used to?

That varies greatly. Some areas improve within a few days, while stable eating and a natural feeling may take several weeks. In addition, after tooth extraction, the fit can continue to change for months.

Do I have to wear my dentures all day?

Follow the wearing instructions you received when installing. Different agreements may temporarily apply to new or immediately placed dentures. After the adjustment phase, it is usually wise to rest the mouth at night, unless otherwise agreed with you.

Can new dentures hurt?

An unfamiliar or pressing sensation can occur, but sharp or increasing pain should be assessed. Do not keep putting up with it, and never adjust the denture yourself.

What can I do if my denture comes loose while eating?

Make smaller pieces, chew slowly and divide the food between both sides. If the prosthesis continues to move, have the fit and bite checked.

How do I keep my new denture clean?

Read our extensive page Cleaning and storage for instructions per prosthesis type.

Resources and further information

This explanation is based on official Dutch patient information and supplemented with our practical experience and personal aftercare:

This page provides general information. The personal instructions you receive from Van Hoften Tandprothetiek, your dentist or implantologist always take precedence.

Getting used to your dentures