Experiencing Denture Sores? 5 Ways to Treat the Problem
Dentures rubbing gums is nothing to ignore. Left untreated, denture sores can make you feel miserable and cause temporary or permanent damage to your gum tissue.
There are numerous reasons for dentures rubbing gums. Fortunately, there are ways to improve the situation. Temporary home remedies include the use of warm salt water rinses, denture pads, and good oral hygiene. Permanent treatments involve having the dentures professionally adjusted or relined to relieve excess pressure and improve their fit.
Dentures made from lower-quality raw materials don’t fit as well and often rub sores on your gums. That’s because dentures made from cheaper materials are prone to distortion and shrinkage during processing.
European Denture Center understands your concerns and we offer an array of dentures made from the very best quality materials using precise manufacturing techniques for greater comfort and superior fit upon delivery.
Why Do Dentures Hurt Your Gums?
If you’ve had your teeth extracted and dentures inserted immediately thereafter, it is normal for your dentures to make your mouth sore from time to time. Think about it; the shape of your mouth changes daily as your gums begin to heal. In the beginning, the bone that formed the tooth sockets may be uneven or exposed.
Why Do Dentures Cut Into My Gums?
Dentures that cut into your gums are usually the result of the flanges being too long. Long flanges prevent the denture from fully sitting against your gums and jawbone. This allows for food and debris to get under the dentures. This is particularly problematic as swelling diminishes and your gums change shape.
If the issue is not addressed, dentures rubbing gums will form an overgrowth of tissue in the area where the flange is cutting. This callus can be painful and make it more difficult for you to wear dentures in the future.
How Do You Stop Dentures from Hurting?
There are solutions to relieve denture pain. One way is to place a denture pad under the denture to cushion your gums and eliminate excess pressure. Removing the dentures from your mouth will also ease the pain. But these solutions are only temporary fixes. Sore gums and pain caused by dentures rubbing gums is not something to ignore in hopes that it will eventually stop on its own.
How Can I Make My Dentures More Comfortable?
How to get rid of denture sores begins with scheduling an adjustment appointment with a denturist as soon as possible. In fact, many dental professionals will schedule this initial adjustment appointment for patients having teeth removed on the same day their dentures are placed.
That’s because they know that swelling from the procedure and dramatic changes that take place after surgery make it nearly impossible to guess the location of dentures rubbing gums 24 to 48 hours later. Adjustments can make a dramatic difference in your comfort level and your ability to use your dentures.
How Can I Ease the Pain of Dentures?
At the adjustment appointment, the dental professional will remove excess denture material that prevents the dentures from fitting flush against your gums and grind down any spots on the denture that cause uneven pressure. The denturist can also refine the bite so that the dentures hit evenly and uniformly while chewing.
What Is Good for Sore Gums from Dentures?
Sore gums are benefited from using warm salt water rinses 4 to 5 times per day until the gum tissue has healed and is no longer sore. Over-the-counter pain medicines (Tylenol, Advil, etc.) can also help reduce inflammation, pain, and discomfort.
Some patients resort to using topical anesthetics, like those containing benzocaine, to help alleviate pain caused by dentures. While these methods temporarily improve your comfort level, true relief is obtained only by addressing the source of the problem with a denture adjustment.
What Is Good for Getting Rid of Sores Caused by Dentures?
If denture sores are not relieved by adjustments, are there other alternatives? The denture may need to be relined to improve its fit.
Relining is a process where new pink material is selectively added to the inside of a denture for the denture to make intimate, uniform contact with all of your gum tissue once again. A denture that fits well doesn’t cause sores.
What Are Other Common Problems with Dentures?
There are other common problems that can occur from dentures fitting improperly. Read on to learn more about common issues many denture-wearers face.
Mouth Infections
Most mouth infections are caused by bacteria or yeast that develop on the tissue covered by the denture. Both of these proliferate in dark, moist environments. Wearing dentures 24/7 or not thoroughly cleaning the debris from your dentures and gum tissue are the prime causes of infections.
Like your shoes, dentures were never meant to be worn continuously. The skin or tissue covered by the man-made appliance needs to rest and be exposed to the air every day to maintain proper health.
Unnatural Smiles
Unnatural smiles are caused by the teeth not being positioned correctly within the denture base itself. Most patients who are missing all of their natural teeth are given the opportunity to see a mock-up of their dentures in their mouth and approve of the appearance before the denture is processed. One disadvantage to immediate dentures is this try-in process is not possible because your own teeth are in the way.Full
Temporary dentures involve guesswork and don’t always yield the exact smile that you would choose. In most cases, to change the look of the dentures or the appearance of the smile requires making new dentures.
Issues With Chewing
One of the most disappointing things about wearing dentures is you can’t bite and chew as well as you could with your natural teeth. There is an 80% reduction in chewing capacity with dentures and it generally takes you longer to chew in order to grind the food sufficiently for proper digestion. It also may be necessary to limit the types of foods that you are able to eat comfortably and work up to more difficult to chew foods over time.
Learning to eat with dentures is challenging and takes time, patience, practice, and sheer determination. People who have worn dentures for years have learned how to bite and chew better than those who are new denture-wearers. Pace yourself –– you’ll get there.
See Also: Getting Used to Chewing With Dentures
Loose Lower Dentures
Lower dentures always feel looser than upper dentures. Learning to wear lower dentures doesn’t come naturally. People who have mastered it have trained their tongue and facial muscles to help hold the denture in place. Occasionally, you may notice that your dentures slip out of position. This always seems to happen at the most inopportune moment. If your dentures slip out of place, reposition them then bite down while swallowing.
What Are Some Denture Tips and Tricks?
Speaking can be a difficult task when you have new dentures. Learning how to hold your tongue to form the correct sounds is challenging. One trick to help you learn to speak clearly is to practice reading aloud from a book or magazine. Singing along with your favorite songs in the privacy of your car or shower can also help you get used to forming words without whistling. With time, talking with dentures will become second nature.
See Also: Why Your Dentures Cut Into Gums & Cause Pain
Not All Dentures Are Created Equally
Dentures are artificial appliances designed to replace your missing teeth. But not all dentures are the same. European Denture Center partners exclusively with Idaho’s premier dental laboratory to manufacture its dentures using CAD/CAM printing or milling technology for a precise fit. If you’ve worn dentures made by traditional processing methods, you’ll notice the difference the moment precise-fitting dentures are delivered. High-quality materials and advanced technology allow European Denture Center to offer the superior comfort that you deserve.
Give us a call today at 866-428-0505 to schedule an appointment. We will ensure proper-fitting, high-quality dentures so you can avoid dentures rubbing gums.