overcoming common denture challenges
Feeling frustrated with your dentures? You're not alone. More than 35 million Americans have dentures, and nearly all of them have had challenges at one time or another. New denture wearers often experience minor problems as they get used to their dentures. Even those who have had dentures for years encounter periodic issues as their mouths grow and change.
Here are five typical denture challenges and tips for overcoming them:
- Too much saliva: With a new foreign object in your mouth, you might feel as though your salivary glands are working in overdrive. This is perfectly natural and will go away once you become adjusted to wearing your dentures. Try to swallow more often to remove the excess saliva. You might want to suck on a mint or hard candy to get yourself swallowing more frequently.
- Soreness: Soreness is very common, and usually occurs within a few hours of putting your dentures in. Rinsing with warm salt water can help alleviate the pain. Using denture adhesives may also help reduce irritation and sore spots caused by denture rub. If soreness becomes a continuing problem, you should consider seeing your dentist or prosthodontist so that any necessary adjustments can be made. Never try to adjust your dentures on your own.
- "Full-mouth" feeling: When you first start wearing dentures, you might get the feeling they are too big or that your lips are being pushed forward. This is common and will decrease as you get used to wearing your dentures. Ensure that you wear your dentures as much as possible to help your muscles adjust to holding them in place.
- Dentures slipping: Keeping your dentures in place requires the ability to hold them still with the muscles of your lips, cheeks, and tongue. At first, these muscles might tend to "kick out" your dentures. A denture adhesive such as Fixodent® can help keep your dentures in place.
- Dentures no longer fit: Dentures rest on gum tissue and your jawbone, which deteriorate and shrink over time. If your dentures used to fit well but now feel loose, visit your dentist. It might be time for an adjustment or a new set of replacement dentures.
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