Replacing lost teeth with dentures is a common practice that puts back the smile in you and also helps you chew and eat food like a normal person. However, with time, your denture does not fit the way it originally did. This is because of the aging factor that causes changes to take place in your mouth. In order to maintain good oral health, you need to visit your dentist regularly and have your remaining teeth and your dentures checked. Ill-fitting dentures can lead to sores in the gum tissues, which are soft and get damaged by the constant movement of false teeth.
Ill-Fitting Dentures
When you get fitted out for a denture the dentist takes precise measurements and creates a denture that is a perfect fit. As you age, the ridges present in the gums can shrink causing tiny gaps that cause the denture to loosen. Aging also causes the bone to shrink, affecting the synchronization of the upper and lower jaws. Ill-fitting dentures can rub against the soft tissue in the gums and cause sore spots. Moreover, you can experience digestion problems as the food cannot be chewed properly with poor fitting dentures.
Replacing/Adjusting Dentures
Periodic visits to your dentist helps monitor changes in your mouth. Instead of removing poor fitting dentures and either safe-keeping them in your cupboard or discarding them, have your dentist examine your mouth and suggest the necessary changes. Your dentist will either suggest that you get fitted out for a new set of dentures, or have them readjusted to suit your mouth. While checking your dentures, the dentist gets a chance to check your remaining teeth and suggest treatment that will help you save them.
Maintaining your Dentures
If you are using clip-on dentures you are probably removing and fixing them constantly, causing them to loosen. Regular visits to your dentist helps keep your dentures in good shape. You need to regularly brush your dentures and remove food particles lodged in them. Whenever you remove your dentures, make sure you store them in a glass container filled with water, alternatively, you may use any denture solution recommended by your dentist.
Ways to Make Dentures Fit Better
If you are using clip-on dentures do not try to adjust the steel wires yourself as you can end up damaging your gums. Leave it to your dentist who will use special tools to adjust your dentures to suit your mouth and help prevent damages your gums. It is better to use a denture adhesive that will keep your dentures firmly in place and prevent sores.
The best way to ensure that your dentures make a perfect fit is to visit your dentist regularly and have your mouth and jaw bones examined. Any changes in the gum ridges or underlying bone will cause your dentures to loosen. Your dentures need to be adjusted by your dentist. In extreme cases where there are major changes in the width and height of your jaw bone, a dental surgeon will suggest procedures like tissue/bone grafting to correct the alignment. Using denture adhesive or cream helps hold your dentures firmly in position without affecting the gum tissue or underlying bone.