3 Ways to Deal with Denture Sores

Dentures can make a massive difference in the lives of people who have lost teeth, improving how they look and feel in the course of any given day. With that in mind, patients may need to adjust to their prosthetic, especially at first.

One aspect of that process is dealing with denture sores, which can crop up often during the first month or so of having your dentures. If you want to know how you can deal with them, here are some things that you may want to try.

Take a Break

If you’re developing painful sore spots, one of the first things you should consider is whether you’re wearing your dentures for too long. It’s recommended that you leave your dentures out to soak overnight, so if you aren’t already, you should make it a point to give your gums a break while you sleep.

If you’re taking your dentures out at night but still developing sore spots, you may also want to take them out for a few hours during the day as well.

Use Saltwater

Saltwater has some proven anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial effects, which can be useful when dealing with denture sores. Mix around ¼ teaspoon of salt into around ¼ cup of warm water, and swish this around for a few moments. You can do this up to four times a day until your sores heal.

Get Your Dentures Relined

As was mentioned, it’s perfectly normal to experience denture sores when you first get your prosthetic, and this should start to ease up after the first month or so. If it doesn’t, that could be a sign that your prosthetic doesn’t fit quite as well as it should, and that it’s rubbing against your gums during the day.

You probably went in for several relinings when you first got your dentures, but if you’re developing sores or overusing denture adhesive, that may be a sign that you need another.

Denture sores definitely aren’t any fun, but working through them is an important part of having an oral prosthetic. Keep these tips in mind, and you should be able to get through this uncomfortable phase without any issues. 

About the Author

Dr. Jonathan Aguilar loves being able to help members of his community find the healthy, beautiful smiles that they deserve. There’s nothing he enjoys more than being able to get to know his patients as people. Dr. Aguilar received his doctorate from the Texas A&M Health Science Center Baylor College of Dentistry, and he has remained committed to continuing his education ever since.

If you have any questions about how best to handle dental sores, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (940) 566-5332.