You likely felt pretty good about your dentures when you first got them. That’s normal – your new replacement teeth brought your full smile back! However, maybe your dentures are now irritating your mouth and causing some nasty sores. You’ll want to address those spots to protect and enhance your oral health. Well, the good news is that your Falls Church dental practice can help. Here’s a primer on how to get rid of denture sores.
What Exactly are Denture Sores?
In essence, denture sores are the parts of your gums irritated by dentures. They usually develop when a patient adjusts to the new teeth, becoming swollen, sensitive, and painful to the touch. Roughly half of all denture users now deal with some form of them.
Dentures can cause sores through several means. For example, they may not fit your mouth well and cut your gum tissue. A pair of dentures could also irritate the gums by putting pressure on their nerves. The prosthetics may even trap food in hard-to-reach places and inflame the tissues.
How Can You Deal With Them at Home?
Thankfully, several home remedies exist that can help you manage denture sores. These include the following:
- Topical Anesthetics – It’s possible to relieve denture sores with the right topical anesthetic. In particular, consider brands that have benzocaine.
- Pain Relievers – Certain pain relievers can ease the ache of your denture sores. By taking Advil or Tylenol, you could reduce any inflammation or discomfort.
- Salt Water Rinses – If you swish with warm salt water, your sore gums will likely feel better. Try doing these rinses four to five times daily.
- Overnight Soaks – One good approach is to put your dentures in a cleansing solution overnight. Not only does this let your gums rest, but it also gives you cleaner, less irritating prosthetics.
When Should You See a Dentist for Help?
You should see a dentist for help if your denture sores persist for days or weeks. When you do, they’ll use their education and experience to address these painful spots.
Dentists have a few ways to treat denture sores. One option is to reline your dentures to fit better and not irritate your gums. On the other hand, they could get your restorations fully refitted. Your dentist may even have the dentures (and your mouth) cleaned when the sores stem from bad bacteria.
Hopefully, you now have a better idea of how to get rid of denture sores. Follow through on this guidance so you can benefit from your full smile again.
About the Practice
DentaCrafters PLLC is based in Falls Church, VA. Led by Drs. Nada and Duckett, our practice focuses on all-inclusive dental care that can meet nearly any oral need. We thus offer preventive, cosmetic, and restorative treatments, as well as emergency smile services. Of course, our team is also ready to help you deal with any denture sores you have! For more details or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (703)-241-5775.