Denture Exercises
Unlike other prosthetics, dentures are one of the only prosthetic devices where the normalization of physiotherapy, trauma treatment and guided learning isn’t incorporated into care.
At Pearl Denture & Implant Centre we want to start changing how we view dental prosthetics.
We recommend patients practice doing these exercises below to adapt quicker to their new prosthetic. Leave room that it will be difficult at first, but it does get easier the more you practice!
Many patients may need to relearn how to smile after getting new dentures. This can be due to weakened muscles, collapsed lips or lowered self confidence.
You may feel like your teeth don’t match your face, or that they belong to you. This is expected. Please know most patients experience this with the first set of dentures as they are completely new teeth and it does go away.
Practice smiling and making a full range of expressions at yourself in the mirror with your dentures. The largest smile you can, a silly face with your tongue out, angry faces, etc. This normalizes what you look like with your dentures in and you can get used to your appearance again.
Smiling
Talking
Patients may find that their dentures affect their speech initially. We suggest that patients find books, newspapers, comics, etc, that they enjoy and read aloud in front of a mirror. This will get your muscles, tongue, and cheeks working together with your teeth to make proper sounds to improve your speech. The more you practice articulating your sounds and words the easier it will become.
“S” sounds are typically the last to come, so make sure to practice those ones and be patient with yourself. The fit of your denture also greatly affects speech and may change as patients are healing. We can adjust dentures in small ways to help improve speak, but sometimes a speech therapist provides needed support.
Eating
Initially, patients will have a difficult time eating with their new teeth. Patients may bite their tongue/cheeks, have muscle soreness in their jaw, or feel that their mouth is very full. These are normal experiences for new denture wearers.
Starting off with softer foods in smaller quantities and building up to difficult foods that are harder to chew will become easier over time. Cut your food up, and practice eating a variety of different things alone before going out to eat in public. This way you can build your confidence ahead of time and know your boundaries.