If you or someone you love wears dentures, you know the challenges that can come with adjusting to life without natural teeth. Difficulties eating certain foods and speaking clearly are common concerns.
In this guide, we’ll share practical tips, inspiring patient stories, and expertise from our dental team to help you regain confidence in these everyday activities. You’re not alone on this journey - together, we’ll find solutions so you can continue doing the things you love with a bright, healthy smile.
Transitioning to dentures often brings initial hurdles, but preparation and support make them temporary. Here are the most frequent difficulties and how to approach them:
Dentures don't provide the biting force and stability of natural teeth. This can make chewing some foods challenging at first. Strategies include:
With practice, most people adapt their chewing technique and diet for comfortable, confident eating.
The way dentures fit in your mouth can affect speech sounds. Some initial issues include:
Exercises, therapy, denture adjustments, and accumulator development can help overcome these challenges. Give yourself grace as your mouth adjusts.
With some adjustments, denture wearers can continue enjoying their favorite foods. Here are practical tips to make mealtimes easier:
Don’t let speech changes prevent you from conversing comfortably. Implement these helpful techniques:
Hearing how others overcame eating and speaking obstacles can inspire your own success.
Nancy found eating and speaking with her new dentures very difficult and embarrassing initially. But with expert guidance from our dental team, she tried various techniques to improve. Jaw exercises built up her chewing ability, so she could bite into tender meats. Speech therapy helped her better enunciate words.
Now Nancy feels proud sharing her journey to help others. She says adjusting to dentures was challenging, but worth it to regain function and self-confidence. “With patience and support, you can learn to eat and speak just as well with dentures,” she assures.
Emily was self-conscious about how her new dentures affected her speech. Certain words came out mumbled or slurred. She also had trouble chewing tougher foods.
But Emily was determined to push past these hurdles. She met with our speech therapist weekly for pronunciation drills and exercises. During meals, she took smaller bites and concentrated on chewing thoroughly.
Within a couple months, Emily made excellent progress. She felt more confident engaging in conversations and social settings. She can now bite into a juicy apple thanks to adapting her denture chewing technique. Emily says understanding the adjustment period was key to overcoming challenges.
At our practice, we understand the lifestyle transition dentures require. That’s why our experienced dentists and caring staff provide customized solutions and ongoing support. Join Richter Dental in exploring different types of dentures, where we combine expert advice with innovative solutions to restore your smile's beauty and functionality.
We listen carefully and develop treatment plans tailored to your unique needs. Denture materials, fit, placement, and style are all customized for optimal function and comfort. Follow-up adjustments and guidance ensure your long-term success.
Our compassionate team offers advice and reassurance from your initial consultation through years of follow-up care. Richter Dental provides a thorough and caring approach to your oral health, guiding you through the step-by-step process of getting dentures with expertise and compassion. We’re always available to answer questions and help you navigate potential eating and speaking challenges. Each achievement, no matter how small, is celebrated!
With proper care, dentures can last 5 years or more. But over time, relining or replacing them may be needed for optimal fit and function. We’ll monitor your oral health and recommend solutions so your dentures continue giving you confidence and quality of life.
How long does it take to adjust to eating and speaking with new dentures?
It typically takes 2-3 weeks to adapt speech and chewing ability with new dentures. Practicing speaking techniques and eating soft foods can quicken progress. Discomfort and issues should steadily improve over time.
Avoid very hard, sticky, crunchy or chewy foods which could loosen dentures or damage them. Opt for softer, bite-sized pieces of tender meats, cooked vegetables, and foods that are easier to chew and swallow.
Dentures can temporarily reduce flavor perception. Using denture adhesive for a secure fit allows better chewing and food release over taste buds. Maintaining excellent denture and oral hygiene also maximizes flavor.
Thorough daily cleaning, soaking, using cleaners made for dentures, brushing your gums, regular dental checkups, denture adhesive when needed, and proper storage are key for denture care and longevity. Avoid harsh cleaners or abrasives that could scratch them.