You will be shown how to insert and remove dentures by your dentist. Be sure to practice doing this properly to ensure you maintain the fit of your dentures. Never use excessive force to remove a denture. 

Even if you have worn dentures before, new dentures are a massive adaptation for your body and mind. You may feel uncomfortable at first. If you persist, you mouth will adapt and comfort will be increased. 

Learning to eat with dentures takes practice and time. Start with soft foods in order to adapt your muscles and brain to the new way of eating. Cut food into small pieces, take small mouthfuls and chew slowly. This will help to keep the dentures in place. 

Avoid biting with your front teeth as it may cause the dentures to tip and place excess pressure on your gums. Instead, aim to bite with multiple back teeth at once. 

Until you get used to sensing the temperature of hot foods, be cautious. Avoid sticky foods, sharp foods and hard foods (nuts, raw carrots, toffees). 

As you gain confidence with your dentures, you can widen your diet to ensure healthy nutrition. If you need assistance, ask your dentist for advice. 

After the first week or two, most people find that dentures do not interfere with their speech. Sometimes certain words may be difficult to pronounce at first. It may help to repeat words aloud in front of a mirror. If your dentures “click” when you talk, try to speak more slowly. If your denture slips when you speak, bite down gently to reposition it and swallow. Your tongue and cheek muscles will soon learn to keep it in place. If you have noticed a persistent problem in your speech, chat to your dentist. 

Denture adhesive can give you added confidence that your denture will not slip out of place. Your dentist can advise you of which denture adhesives may be useful for you. 

If soreness develops under a denture, book an appointment with your dentist to have the denture reviewed and adjusted. If soreness worsens, remove the denture for a few hours at a time to allow your gums to rest and heal. If ulcers develop, use a warm saltwater mouth rinse to help the tissue to heal. 

Take care to maintain optimal oral hygiene in your mouth when wearing dentures. Brush your natural teeth as usual, two times daily. Use a soft brush or wet towel to brush over your gums. Brush your dentures with a separate soft toothbrush and dish soap, over a soft surface. Take care not to drop your denture while cleaning, as it will likey break. If you are unsure, ask your dentist to show you how to brush. 

Dentures are delicate and can eaily break. When cleaning your denture, hold it over a towel or basin of water to cushion the fall if you drop it. Brush them gently. 

If you break a denture or damage the clasp on your denture, stop wearing it. Book an appointment to have it reviewed with your dentist. 

Do NOT glue the parts of your denture together because most glues will permanently damage or ruin the denture.  

Do not bend or modify any clasps on a partial denture as this could easily break them or negatively alter the fit. 

You should remove your dentures before bed each night. This gives the gums a chance to rest and your dentures a chance to dry out overnight. After cleaning your dentures at night, place them in the case to sit overnight. 

Regular dental check ups and denture reviews are important to extend the lifetime of your dentures. Your dentist will examine your teeth, mouth and dentures to ensure have the best fit. 

If you develop sore gums, a toothache or a broken denture, book an appointment with your dentist to review you sooner. Over time, dentures will need to be remade, adjusted and relined due to natural wear and adaptive changes. 

You can expect a few minor complications throughout your denture experience: 

• Even the best fitting dentures can feel awkward at first, you may take several weeks to months to make the full adjustment to your new denture 
• Lower dentures generally take much longer to be accustomed to
• Some people require a few months with their new dentures before their speech returns to normal
• There may be additional costs when gums shrink or bone changes more than expected. The denture may need to be relined or remade
• You may experience a slight change in facial shape or appearance due to the shape of your new dentures and the position of your missing teeth 
• You may experience a temporary increase in saliva flow, this is just your mouth becoming adapted to the new prosthesis
• Although we aim to source the best materials and use quality techniques, denture teeth cannot always perfectly reproduce your natural teeth 
• It is not uncommon to feel discouraged for a while when getting used to the feel and appearance of a new denture 
• As the shape of your gums and jawbones change, you can expect to need a replacement denture approximately every 3-7 years 
• If dentures are not removed daily and cleaned thoroughly, you can expect to develop a fungal infection (Candida Albicans)
• Over time, a badly fitting denture can cause inflammation of the gums (Denture Stomatitis) 
• If you have a dry mouth, denture retention may be difficult