Patient Information

What you need to know about your new dentures

Important information about dentures and denture care

It is important to understand that a denture is an artificial appliance and it requires time to learn to tolerate and function with them.
Accustoming to a new denture can take time; however, perseverance is the key to success.
It is important that you leave your new denture in your mouth for at least the first 24 hours.
Speech maybe affected by new dentures, but this can be overcome by simply reading out loud, or for the more adventurous, singing. The tongue needs to find its correct position for speech enunciation. The lips and cheeks may also be affected.
A lower denture usually takes more time to adjust to than an upper denture.
The tongue may feel restricted and will tend to play with the new prosthesis. It will soon adapt to the restrictions and to the new feeling that a denture presents.
In the initial stage, it can be helpful to drink more water to maintain moisture levels, or remove excessive salvia in the mouth.
It is perfectly normal to experience some discomfort and develop sore spots during the adjustment period. Nature did not intend for us to wear hard plastic against soft gum tissue. It takes a while for the gum tissues to firm up and to accommodate to the hard-plastic denture.
If sore spots should develop (and in some cases, they do not), please be sure to wear the denture for at least 24 hours prior to your adjustment visit. If the prosthetist can see the sore spot, it is possible to make accurate adjustments.

Start with soft foods e. eggs, cooked vegetables, fish
Cut food into small pieces
Eat food slowly
Place your food on both sides of your mouth at the same time to balance the biting forces on the new denture which will make it more stable.

An unclean denture is neither healthy, attractive nor comfortable.
Do not use toothpaste on dentures.
Clean your new denture every morning and night using a soft denture brush, liquid soap (dish washing liquid-rinse well) and warm water (not hot). Wash over a full sink of water or towel. (Dentures can break on hard bathroom floors.)
Additional cleaning can be done by soaking in commercially produced cleaners, (or white vinegar) however soaking is not a substitute for brushing- you need to brush your dentures.
It is recommended that you leave out your dentures at night. This allows your gum tissues to breathe and relieves them of the constant pressures from chewing. When left out of the mouth, all dentures should be left in water to prevent warpage, or once a week in a cleaner.
Please continue brushing your gums, tongue and remaining dentition with a toothbrush and toothpaste everyday as this will assist the general health of the mouth.

Never try to adjust or repair dentures yourself!