Dentures have come a long way since the wooden teeth worn by George Washington. But, as anyone who has worn them can attest, dentures can cause discomfort. There are two times when dentures often cause discomfort – during the “initial” adjustment phase, when dentures are new, and after several years of wearing, when dentures may stop fitting properly.

Most people become accustomed to their new dentures within a short time. However, at first, you may have difficulty talking and eating. You may find the dentures tend to “slip,” or you may develop sore spots in your mouth.

Even people who have had dentures for years sometimes develop problems with them, sometimes problems related to fit. “When the teeth are extracted, the dentures sit on the bony ridge that is left,” says Sandra Hazard, D.M.D, a managing dentist with Willamette Dental Group, Inc., in Oregon. “Without the teeth, the stimulation of the bone is gone and, over the years, the bone is reabsorbed by the body. The plastic denture, of course, stays the same but starts to fit badly.”

Poor fit is probably the most common cause of denture discomfort. As the bony ridge shrinks, the dentures can slip, move around, and cause sore areas. Often, people try to refit their dentures by using commercial denture adhesives. But using too much adhesive can change the relationship of the denture to the tissue and result in more soreness. Sometimes the body itself tries to resolve the ill-fitting denture problem by causing the tissue to overgrow in the mouth.

While dentures will never be as comfortable as your natural teeth, there are plenty of things you can do to prevent and resolve denture discomfort. The following information was taken from The Home Remedies Handbook.

Keep those chompers clean. When you first have your teeth extracted and your new dentures fit, it’s important to keep your dentures clean, “because excess bacteria can retard the gum’s healing process,” says Hazard.

Once you’re accustomed to your dentures, it’s important to clean them at least twice a day. “You can brush them with toothpaste or use a special denture cleaner,” says Hazard.

Jack W. Clinton, D.M.D., Dean of School of Dentistry at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland, prefers plain old soap and water to keep dentures sparkling. “Using a hand brush and soap and water works great,” he says.

Brush the gums. Don’t forget to brush your gums, too. “You can help maintain the health of the tissues that lie underneath the dentures by brushing your gums twice a day with a soft brush,” says Ken Waddell, D.M.D., a general, family and sedation dentist in private practice in Tigard, Oregon.

Brushing the gums, palate, and tongue not only stimulates the tissues and increases circulation, it also helps reduce bacteria and removes plaque.

Baby your mouth. At least at first, your gums need time to adjust to the compression created by the dentures. Hazard advises patients to eat soft foods during the denture adjustment period to avoid damaging the tender tissues.

Once the gums have healed and your dentist has refitted your dentures properly, you’ll be able to chew more normally. But Waddell says some foods, such as apple and corn on
the cob, are probably best avoided by people who wear dentures. “Advertisements show people with dentures eating all kinds of hard foods,” he says. “But hard foods cause the denture to traumatize the gums and the bone of the upper jaw. Cut up your apples and take the corn off the cob.”

Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. During the initial break-in of your dentures, your mouth is likely to feel sore. According to Hazard, over-the-counter pain relievers, including aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen, can take the sting out of the pain.

However, if you have persistent pain or if you’ve worn dentures for several years and pain develops, see your dentist.

Take them out. When you develop a sore area in your mouth from dentures, Clinton says to do what is natural – take them out. “If you’re uncomfortable, you probably have a soft tissue injury,” says Clinton, “Take the denture out and leave it out for an hour or so. In most cases, that takes care of it.”

If you develop a red spot, Clinton advises going dentureless for 24 hours. Then, if it doesn’t clear up or if the soreness returns when you start using your dentures again, see your dentist.

Rinse with salt water. If you’re in the adjustment phase of wearing dentures or if you’re adenture veteran who has developed a sore area in your mouth, Clinton advises rinsing the mouth with warm salt water (half a teaspoon of salt to four ounces of warm water). “Take out your dentures and rinse your mouth every three to four hours with the salt water,” he says. “Not only does the salt water help clean out the bacteria, it also helps toughen the tissue.”

Try hydrogen peroxide. Rinse your mouth out once a day with oral three percent hydrogen peroxide, advises Ronald Wismer, D.M.D., past president of the Washington County Dental Society in Oregon. Mix the peroxide half and half with water, swish for 30 seconds or so (don’t swallow), and spit. The hydrogen peroxide helps clean the bacteria.

Don’t self-adjust. Too often, people who have worn their dentures for a while and develop a fit problem try to adjust their dentures themselves with a pocket knife or other tool. “This can cause more harm,” says Clinton, “because it can break down the dentures, change the dentures “bite” and alters how the dentures fit against the gum.“

Also, don’t try to “fill the space” between the denture and the gum tissue with over-the- counter adhesive. If your dentures begin to slip or don’t feel like they’re fitting properly, see your dentist who can reline them.

Take time out. “I tell people their dentures should be out of their mouths half the time,” says Clinton. “It gives the tissues time to recover.”

Always take your dentures out at night, Clinton advises, “You don’t sleep with your shoes on,” he says. “It’s the same with your dentures.” This also helps to make sure you have a good night’s sleep.