Kids and Teeth from Babyhood to University

You may feel as if you have been given a new lease of life with your new dentures, but the early days have not been that easy to deal with. While a certain amount of discomfort is not unusual in such a situation, you may think that it's just too much, so what can you do to alleviate the pain?

Assessing the Problem

It's very unusual, given the typical expertise of the dentist and the technology available in the office, for dentures to have been poorly fitted. Therefore, you may be encountering one of two situations. It's possible that your gums could be shrinking, which is a process that people encounter as they age, while it is also possible that the dentures need to be adjusted due to "settling in."

Relieving the Pressure Points

While sophisticated tools are used by the dentist in order to design a tailor-made denture for you, sometimes your set will need to settle into position. They are designed for the consistency and shape of your particular tissue structure and gums, but you may still find that a couple of pressure points can cause some discomfort. This is when the dentures come into contact with the underlying bone, through the tissue.

If you find this to be particularly troubling, ask the dentist to do a realignment, where those pressure points are accounted for and the dentures are refitted accordingly.

Adjusting the Suction

It's also possible that the lower dentures are not remaining in place due to a lack of suction. This may not be very noticeable, but it can cause some discomfort as the dentures move slightly, especially when you're eating. Usually, the upper dentures are held in place by natural suction, but a readjustment may be necessary for the lower set.

Getting a Liner

Ask your dentist about a temporary solution known as a "soft" liner. If your gums are particularly painful then this can be inserted in between the dentures and gums to give some relief. Once everything has worked itself out, then the dentist can replace the soft liner with a permanent one for ongoing comfort.

Home Care

Remember to practice good oral hygiene whenever you wear dentures and in particular get rid of tartar and plaque by brushing and flossing. It's a good idea to minimise alcohol consumption as well, as this can cause dehydration within the mouth and contribute to any potential discomfort.

Getting Help

Have a word with your dentist about denture repair as soon as possible if you're worried about the fit so that adjustments can be made as necessary.