How Can I Relieve Denture Pain (Full & Partial Dentures)?
The number one cause of denture pain is ill-fitting or loose dentures. This tends to happen over time as the jawbone changes shape and shrinks. Also, when you first get dentures, it takes the muscles in the mouth a little while to get used to holding the dentures in place. It is not unusual to have minor irritation and soreness as you become accustomed to wearing dentures.
Here are a few ways to relieve denture pain…
Consider Other Alternatives
- Your dentist can discuss other options with you if you just can’t seem to get your dentures comfortable. These can include dental implants and overdentures (where implanted anchors hold dentures in place)
Eat Soft Foods, Eat Small Bites
- Eat Soft Foods – It will take you awhile to get used to eating and drinking with them. Start with water and non-sticky foods and work your way back up to regular foods.
- Eat Small Bites – Avoid using your front teeth. Try to keep some food on each side of your mouth as this will help stabilize your dentures
Remove Dentures Daily & Clean Them
- Removing dentures allows the gums and jaw to rest and recover
- Most people find it easiest to leave them out of their mouth (and in a denture solution) overnight while they are asleep
- Cleaning your dentures at least once daily removes harmful plaque and bacteria. Be sure to follow the process described for your dentures
See Your Dentist
- If you are experiencing denture pain, go ahead and make an appointment with your dentist. They will be able to determine the exact cause and help you treat it accordingly.
- Never try to adjust dentures on your own
- New dentures will need to be adjusted, often several times initially, to get the fit just right
- Dentists can adjust existing dentures by relining and rebasing them. Relining is the process of putting a new surface on the denture where it contacts the gums. It can be done with a soft or hard surface. In general, soft relining is considered temporary (while the gum is healing) and hard relining is more permanent. Rebasing is where an entirely new base is put on the denture and is more complex and less common.
- Your dentist will want to see you at least every 6 months to ensure that any problems are caught before they get out of hand
Use an Adhesive
- Properly constructed dentures are held in place by the muscles of the tongue and cheeks. But for those first time denture wearers, the temporary use of a denture adhesive can help them stay in place while the muscles of the mouth “learn” to do the job. Ill-fitting dentures can lead to more rapid bone loss and damage to the jaw.
- Use adhesive only for a short time (or as advised by your dentist). Many of these contain zinc which can lead to health problems if used for extended periods.
Use an Over-The-Counter Remedy
- Over-The-Counter pain relieving medications, such as Orajel™ Denture Pain Relief Gel can help take the pain away temporarily. With 20% benzocaine to instantly relieve pain, menthol to soothe irritated gums and antiseptic (benzalkonium chloride) to help protect against infections that can occur with oral irritation, Orajel™ Denture Pain Relief Gel is a great choice for temporary relief of denture pain
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