How to Get Rid of Denture Sores?

It’s perfectly normal to feel a little “teething” pain when you’re getting used to new dentures. You may feel like your dentures are cutting into your gums, or you may have sore or sensitive gums until you get adjusted, but the good news is you can ease the discomfort. Read on to learn about why you get sores from dentures, how to heal denture sores, the best denture pain relief, and how you can prevent sore gums.

So, what’s the reason behind denture sores and irritation? Most of the time, any pain or discomfort is due to new or badly fitting dentures. It may take some time to adjust to your new dentures, so a little irritation is perfectly normal.

Poorly fitting dentures – ones that are loose or don’t fit properly – can be the cause of dentures cutting into the gums or rubbing the gums. Fortunately it’s something you can easily fix with the help of your dentist. Sometimes you may even have sore gums from partial dentures. 

Gum sores from dentures could also be due to food particles getting stuck between your gums and dentures. A build-up of bacteria, which can happen when you don't clean your dentures properly, is another cause. You can prevent food from getting between the denture and the gum line with a denture adhesive, like Fixodent, which can help prevent sores due to rogue food particles.

It might seem obvious that the main symptom of mouth sores from dentures is, well, sore gums. This soreness might be localized in different areas, though. For instance, you may have denture sores on the roof of your mouth, or just around where your partial is located. You might feel a little irritation, soreness, discomfort, or even pain.

Because most denture sores are due to poorly fitting dentures, the best course of action is to go to your dentist to get them checked out. You might need your denture adjusted or refitted so it sits better, which will reduce the irritation on your gums.

Is there anything else you can do to make life with dentures easier? Yes, there are a few little home tricks that may help reduce denture discomfort. Always consult your dentist for advice before trying any home remedies.

• Use topical anesthetic. Your dentist may recommend a topical anesthetic, like one containing benzocaine, to help relieve pain caused by dentures.

• Rinse your mouth with salty water. This can help soothe sore gums, too. Try rinsing with salty water four or five times a day until the gum tissue has healed.

• Use pain relief medication. Your dentist may recommend over-the-counter pain relief to help reduce inflammation, pain, and discomfort.

• Remove your dentures overnight. Taking your dentures out for the night gives your gums a chance to breathe and relax a bit.

• Soak your dentures overnight. Put your dentures in a denture cleaning solution or water to soak.

They say prevention is better than a cure, and the same applies to sore gums. There are some measures you can take to prevent denture sores, like: 

• Remove your dentures overnight. 

• Clean your dentures daily. Remove any food particles so they won’t irritate your gums, not to mention regular cleaning can also help remove tartar from dentures. 

• Eat soft foods. If you have new dentures, you can ease into them by starting with soft foods. 

• Avoid sticky food. Although you can eat anything with dentures once you’re used to them, you can avoid sore gums or even ease any irritation by avoiding sticky food. If you’re new to dentures, you can see the best foods to eat for new denture wearers. 

• Use denture adhesive. A denture adhesive, like Fixodent, can help prevent gum pain as it prevents food particles from getting between the gums and dentures. It also keeps the denture in place to stop it from moving and irritating your gums, providing your denture is fitted correctly.

• Avoid triggers like hot, spicy, acidic or salty beverages. Food and drink that’s too hot or spicy can irritate denture sores more. 

Life with new dentures is not always easy, especially when you’re struggling with denture pain and soreness. The good news is that it’s easy to treat sore gums from dentures with a well-fitting denture, a little adhesive, and by getting started with the right foods.