Are Your Dentures Hurting? Here's How to Make Them More Comfortable.

Full or partial dentures are a great choice if you've lost most or all of your natural teeth, but they can take a little getting used to. If you're finding that your new dentures aren't as comfortable as you'd like, or you're experiencing regular pain while wearing your dentures, help is at hand.

Denture pain is a fairly common problem, and it's often easy to solve. By keeping your dentures and your mouth clean, you'll reduce the risk of gum diseases and inflammation. Once that's ruled out, you can check that your dentures aren't broken or incorrectly fitted. Breakages or incorrect fittings are easily fixed by a dentist, so you won't need to suffer for long.

Clean your mouth and dentures thoroughly

When you wear dentures, it's possible for small pieces of food to become trapped, leading to a build-up of bacteria which can cause problems. For this reason, it's really important to maintain a strict oral hygiene routine. While it might be hard at first, taking good care of dentures will soon become second nature. You should use a large, soft brush to clean your dentures each night, being sure to remove all debris. Next, soak your dentures in a specially-made denture cleaning solution, which will remove any leftover build-up. Don't use boiling water, abrasive metal brushes or bleaching products on your dentures, as these can all cause damage.

Check for any breakages and have your dentures repaired

Dentures are made to be tough, but that doesn't always stop them from getting damaged. If your dentures crack or chip, you risk cutting your mouth on the sharp edge where the breakage took place. This increases your risk of gum disease and infection, so it needs to be dealt with as soon as possible. Many clinics can repair damage like this while you wait. If you've lost a tooth from your dentures, you'll need to go back to your dentist to have a new tooth made and fitted. Denture repair kits often include a range of spare teeth which can be glued into gaps - this is useful if you're away from home, but isn't a permanent solution.

Have the dentures relined or adjusted

Your mouth naturally changes shape over time, and dentures which were once perfect may start to rub or feel sore. If this is the case, you'll need to visit the dentist to have your dentures altered. Relining or adjusting the shape of your existing dentures normally fixes the problem. In extreme cases, your dentist may suggest having an entirely new set of dentures made.