• Wearing dentures requires making adjustments in eating and speaking.dentures image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com
  
  Dentures are prosthetic devices made for replacing missing teeth. Although wearing dentures will never feel the same as natural teeth, you can learn to adapt to them. Common adjustments include eating, speaking and discomfort problems. On average, it takes about one week for every decade of age to get used to new dentures, according Dental Fear Central. Meanwhile, as a new denture wearer you can utilize several tips to feel more at ease with your new teeth.
  
  

Comfort Tips

• Because your mouth contains some of the body's most sensitive tissues, it can take some time before you adjust to having new dentures. Don't hesitate to make an emergency appointment if a new sore spot causes pain before your regular follow-up appointment. Never try to adjust your own dentures, cautions Denturewearers.com.
  
  Some new denture wearers have nausea at first, but the feeling soon passes. When nauseated, keep dentures in your mouth and suck on a piece of hard candy such as peppermint or lime. Call your denture doctor if nausea continues for two days or longer.
  
  

Eating Tips

• During the first days of wearing dentures consume plenty of liquids like water and soups. Eat yogurt, scrambled eggs and other non-sticky foods, recommends Simple Steps Dental. Avoid sticky foods and raw vegetables. Cut your food into small pieces, and don't use front teeth for biting. When chewing, keep some food on one side of your mouth, as this helps in stabilizing dentures. Even after considerable time has passed wearing dentures, eating will still be less efficient than when you had your natural teeth.
  
  

Speaking Tips

• Many new denture wearers are self-conscious when speaking because they feel as if their mouths are filled with marbles. The Simple Tips Dental website recommends practicing speaking and reading aloud. Be sure to read quietly and slowly, paying attention to correct pronunciation. Many people salivate more when wearing new dentures, which can interfere with speech. Having sugar-free mints can help decrease salivation.
  
  

Dental Care Tips

• Remove dentures and brush them daily, using a specially designed toothpaste and toothbrush made only for denture cleaning. Don't clean or sterilize dentures in boiling water because doing so can damage them, cautions the University of Maryland Medical Center. Once dentures are removed, keep them in a safe place, away from children. Be sure to have your dentures cleaned every six months by an oral health professional.