Common Denture Problems

For most people, it takes between 4 and 12 weeks to really get used to a new set of dentures. During that time, new dentures may need a number of early adjustments.

But before you let frustrations get the upper hand and you toss those new dentures in the rubbish try a few of these simple things.

Difficulty chewing your food

It's very common bite your cheek or tongue when you get a new set of dentures, particularly if it's your first set. To reduce this:

Chew slowly!
Eat steamed vegetables and avoid raw vegetables or anything else that's crunchy or difficult to chew.
Start with very tender meats (e.g. fish, slow cooked tender meats) and avoid tougher cuts like steak.

Slipping & Wobbling

If your dentures are more than 5 years old you may experience slippage due to changes in your mouth or wear in your denture over time.

If this is the case you may be tempted to use some denture adhesive but doing so for extended periods can cause additional problems. So if you have slipping it's important to contact your dental prosthetist for checkup and examination.

Sore gums

Probably about 80% of people will experience sore gums with their new dentures. There can be various causes.

Muscle size & position under your denture may be significantly different while you're eating.
Food can become trapped under your dentures.
Sleeping with your dentures in . Don't do this!

For soreness under your denture it's important to contact your dental prosthetist as soon as you can.

Lisping when you speak

New dentures can make talking difficult for the first week or so.

One of the best ways to overcome this problem is to read out loud.

As you're reading, listen to your pronunciation and your diction and correct what doesn't sound right.
Keep in mind that you're probably more aware of any changes in speech than anyone else is. Any time you speak out loud whether reading or just talking to yourself in the car, you help yourself accommodate more quickly.

Dry mouth or excessive saliva

New denture wearers often suffer from either dry mouth or excessive saliva. Excessive saliva results because the mouth can't tell the difference between the dentures and food in the early stages.

For dry mouths, drinking water or using biotine products can help. For excessive saliva, Please contact your GP.