Why Do Your Dentures Hurt?

Dentures are a solution for tooth loss and have been around for centuries. Original dentures were even made of real animal or human teeth, although that design faded by the 1800s. Today, dentures are most commonly made of porcelain and are fitted to the gums in a way that makes the teeth look as natural as possible.

The most common complaint among denture wearers is pain or discomfort. Getting used to dentures does take some time, and your mouth may feel sore and you may find talking difficult until your mouth gets used to having the false teeth full-time. Having both upper and lower dentures can make the process even harder to get used to.

Do your dentures hurt? Learn these common causes of denture pain.

Bad Fit

Sometimes dentures are fitted when your mouth is still swollen from having teeth removed, resulting in a set of dentures that don't fit true to your mouth's shape once your swelling has gone down.

Or, if you've had the same dentures for years, a bad fit often derives from changes in your mouth or face. Weight loss or gain in the face - and age in general - causes changes in your gums and jawline, which can make formerly comfortable dentures painful.

Perhaps your dentures are too large for your mouth. If your dentures have never quite felt correct or you gag often while eating, speaking, or swallowing, your dentures may be to blame. Any suspicions about the fit of your dentures, whether you have worn the same set for years or you are new to denture wearing, should be brought to your dentist's attention.

Slipping, sliding, bumping, and rubbing dentures irritate the gums and can leave sores in your mouth, causing pain and discomfort. Your dentist will give you an oral exam and make a new cast of your gums to design you a new pair of dentures. You should have your dentist inspect your dentures every year and re-fit them every five to ten years for optimum comfort.

Infection

A common mouth infection that denture wearers get is called denture stomatitis, or thrush of the mouth. This condition is caused by improper or infrequent washing of dentures. Thrush is a yeast infection. In the case of denture-caused infection, the painful and irritating condition is not contagious.

Denture stomatitis usually results in painful itching or swelling inside the mouth, especially along the roof of the mouth. You may also notice cracks along the corners of your lips, along with a white, sticky substance that doesn't go away.

Denture wearers can also be more prone to mouth sores and other mouth infections in general. If you notice small white spots or red patches of irritated skin inside your mouth or on your tongue, or if you suddenly feel pain and swelling in your mouth, see your dentist. You can get a prescription to treat denture stomatitis and other mouth sores.

Debris

Even if you use an adhesive or liner to keep your dentures in place, food particles can still get underneath your dentures and cause irritation in your mouth and gums. Remove and clean your dentures and brush your gums regularly to help prevent infection or lasting irritation from food debris.

Remember that while dentures are an ideal solution for missing teeth, you need to take care when eating certain foods - such as tough meats, popcorn, and chewy candies - until you get used to your new teeth. If you feel something underneath your dentures, remove them and rinse your mouth.

Your dentures should be comfortable. If they aren't, call us at Advanced Dental Care so that we can solve your denture discomforts today.