Getting Used to New Dentures: The First Few Weeks

By the team at Bollington Dental Practice, under the clinical direction of Dr Ellie Burrows, Principal Dentist. Updated October 2026.

New dentures rarely feel right on the first day. Your mouth notices anything new with remarkable sensitivity, and something that covers your gums or palate can feel enormous, loose or awkward at first, even when it fits well. That is normal, and for most people it improves steadily over the first few weeks as the muscles of the cheeks, lips and tongue learn to hold the denture in place. Knowing what is usual, and what is worth a call, takes a lot of the worry out of those early days.

The short answer

Most people take a few weeks to get used to new dentures, sometimes longer, especially with a first full lower denture. Expect extra saliva, some changes to your speech and a few sore spots in the first days. Start with soft food cut into small pieces, read aloud to help your speech settle, and come back for your review so any rubbing areas can be eased. Here acrylic dentures start from £625 and chrome cobalt dentures from £1,495, and your dentist will advise what suits you.

The first few days: what is normal

More saliva than usual. Your mouth treats a new denture as if it were food, and produces extra saliva for the first few days. This usually settles on its own within a week or two. Swallowing more often than usual helps.

A feeling of fullness. The denture can feel bulky, and your lips may seem to stick out a little. Your tongue will explore it constantly at first. This usually fades as your mouth adapts.

Gagging. Some people feel a gag sensation, especially with an upper denture that covers the palate. It is usually worst in the first days and eases with practice. Breathing slowly through your nose can help. If it does not improve, your dentist can check whether the back edge of the denture can be adjusted.

Looseness, particularly at the bottom. An upper full denture is often held by a seal against the palate. A lower full denture has much less to grip and relies more on your cheek and tongue muscles, which take time to learn the job. Most people find the lower denture the harder of the two to get used to.

Changes to taste and temperature. An upper denture that covers the palate can make food taste a little different and makes it harder to judge how hot something is. Take care with hot drinks and soup until you are used to it.

Speaking with new dentures

Sounds such as “s”, “f” and “th” depend on precise contact between the tongue, teeth and palate, so these are the ones most likely to come out slightly lisped or whistled at first.

• Read aloud for a few minutes each day, from a book or newspaper. Many people find this helps more than anything else.
• Repeat the words you find awkward slowly, then at normal speed.
• Speak a little more slowly than usual for the first few days.
• If the denture clicks or moves when you talk, bite gently and swallow to reseat it before carrying on.

Most people find their speech is back to normal within a couple of weeks. If a particular sound still causes problems after that, mention it at your review, because small changes to the denture can sometimes help.

Eating: a step-by-step approach

Eating with dentures is a new skill, and it pays to build it up gradually rather than going straight back to your usual meals.

Start soft. For the first days, choose foods that need little chewing: soup, eggs, fish, mashed vegetables, yoghurt, porridge and soft pasta.

Cut food small. Small pieces are easier to control and put less load on the denture.

Chew on both sides at once. Placing food on both sides of your mouth and chewing evenly helps keep a denture steady. Chewing on one side alone tends to tip it.

Avoid biting with your front teeth at first. Biting into a sandwich or apple with the front teeth levers a denture loose. Cut food up and chew with the back teeth instead.

Work up to firmer food. Over the following weeks, add more textured foods as you feel ready. Very sticky, hard or chewy foods, such as toffee, crusty bread and tough meat, are usually the last to return, and some people continue to find them tricky.

Sore spots and adjustments

Some rubbing in the first days is common, because gums have high spots and the denture may press harder in one place than another. Usually a sore patch develops where the edge sits or where the denture presses during chewing.

• Do not try to adjust the denture yourself. Filing or bending it can ruin the fit.
• Come back for your review. Most new dentures need one or more small adjustments, and these are a routine part of the process. Your dentist can see where the denture is pressing and ease it in minutes.
• Wear the denture for a few hours before your review, if you can do so comfortably, so the sore area is visible and easier to pinpoint.
• If a spot is very painful, take the denture out to let the gum rest and call us. A warm salt water rinse can soothe the area.

If your palate is sore, our guide to a sore roof of the mouth covers other possible causes. A sore spot under a denture should heal within a week or two once the pressure is relieved. Any ulcer or sore patch that has not healed after three weeks needs checking by a dentist, whether or not it is near the denture, and our guide to mouth ulcers explains why.

Adhesive, night time and daily care

Adhesive. A well-fitting denture should not depend on adhesive, but a small amount can add confidence while you get used to it, particularly with a lower denture. Use only a few small dabs, never a thick layer, and clean it off fully each night. Needing more and more adhesive over time suggests the fit has changed. Our denture care guide covers cleaning, adhesive and relines in detail.

Night time. Your dentist will usually advise taking dentures out at night, so your gums can rest. If your dentures were fitted straight after teeth were removed, follow the specific instructions you were given, as these dentures are often left in for the first day.

Immediate dentures. When dentures are fitted on the day teeth come out, the gums and bone shrink as they heal over the following months. The denture usually becomes looser during that time and commonly needs a reline, or sometimes a new denture, once healing has settled.

When to come back to us

Call us for an appointment if:

• A sore spot is not improving after a few days, or keeps returning.
• The denture rocks, drops or clicks constantly, even after the first couple of weeks.
• Your bite feels uneven, or your jaw aches.
• The denture cracks, chips or a tooth comes off.
• Your speech or eating has not improved after several weeks.

Even with a full set of dentures, regular check-ups matter. Your dentist checks the fit, the health of your gums and the soft tissues of your mouth, including screening for signs of mouth cancer.

When to get urgent help: call us the same day if you have swelling, bleeding that will not stop after an extraction, or severe pain. Outside opening hours call NHS 111. If you have swelling that affects your breathing or swallowing, call 999 or go to A&E.

What dentures cost

From our published fees page: acrylic dentures from £625, and chrome cobalt dentures, which have a thin metal framework, from £1,495. Reviews and adjustments in the weeks after fitting are a normal part of the process. Our guide to denture costs explains the difference between types, and our dentures page has more about the treatment. For NHS patients in England, dentures fall under Band 3, currently £332.10. We are not able to take on new adult NHS patients, so the prices quoted from our fees page are for private care here.

If you live in or around Macclesfield, our dentist in Macclesfield page explains how to join the practice, our fees and how to find us.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get used to new dentures?

Most people feel noticeably more comfortable within a few weeks, though it can take longer, particularly with a first full lower denture. Speech usually settles within a couple of weeks. Eating firmer foods takes the longest. Coming back for adjustments helps a great deal.

Why do my new dentures make me produce so much saliva?

Your mouth reacts to a new denture as though it were food and produces extra saliva. This is normal and usually settles within a week or two as your mouth gets used to it.

Is it normal for new dentures to rub?

Some rubbing in the first days is common, and small adjustments at your review appointment are routine. Do not adjust the denture yourself. If a sore spot is very painful or not improving after a few days, call us. Any sore that has not healed in three weeks needs checking.

Should I use denture adhesive with new dentures?

You can use a small amount for confidence while you adapt, particularly with a lower denture. A well-fitting denture should not depend on it, and needing more and more adhesive over time usually means the fit needs checking.

New dentures not settling?

If your new dentures are rubbing, loose or not getting easier, or you are thinking about dentures for the first time, we can check the fit and talk you through your options. Call 01625 574609. New patient examinations are £89 including X-rays, and all our prices are on our fees page.

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