Loose dentures can be an annoyance, but they can also be a serious health concern. There are important links between dental health and general health, and your dentures are a core part of your oral hygiene and health. For example, studies indicate dentures may nearly eliminate the correlation between tooth loss and cognitive decline.
However, dentures must be comfortable and well fitting. Poorly fitting dentures can impact your health, just like other dental conditions. Loose-fitting dentures can lead to pain, problems eating, and more severe issues. Fortunately, you can reduce the likelihood of loosening dentures and to correct any problems with fitment that develop.
Why Are Your Dentures Loose?
Poor denture fit covers a range of different problems. While the result may be the same — loose or uncomfortable dentures — the underlying causes are often radically different. The signs of denture loosening may not be easy to spot, at least at first. You may notice a strange taste in your mouth, clicking when eating, or discomfort that's hard to pin down.
Over time, you'll likely experience more severe symptoms, such as noticeably shifting dentures or problems with eating and speaking. Dentures that remain loose over the long term can cause inflammation and infections, both potentially serious health concerns. Because the consequences can be painful, it's usually best to visit a dentist as soon as you notice problems with your dentures.
But why do these problems occur? The most common reasons are due to changes in your gums. Gum disease, eating habits, gum irritation, and age can cause your gums to shrink or swell. Either case will result in dentures that no longer fit correctly. Since ill-fitting dentures can irritate your gums, the problem often worsens without corrective action.
Can You Prevent Loosening Dentures?
If your denture still fit well, you can take steps to help keep them that way for as long as possible. Although some causes of loosening dentures, such as age or bone degeneration, are inevitable, others are more avoidable. As with many denture-related problems, proper oral hygiene and good denture care are the best steps to keep your dentures fitting correctly.
Always follow your dentist's advice for the proper care and storage of your dentures. These steps will help ensure that the dentures themselves do not become an issue. Keeping your dentures clean will also help you avoid irritation or infections that can cause your gums to become inflamed, resulting in discomfort and poor fit.
While there may be certain foods that you need to avoid while wearing your dentures, you also need to exercise your jaw and use your new teeth. This exercise helps to minimize the bone degeneration process. Likewise, removing your dentures at night and eating a healthy diet will also slow bone loss. These steps can't prevent bone degeneration, but they help keep your dentures well fitting for longer.
What Can You Do If Your Dentures Are Already Loose?
If you notice your dentures loosening, the most important thing you can do is schedule a visit with your dentist. Remember that loose dentures can cause irritation and other health issues, so living with the discomfort will likely only worsen the situation. Fortunately, loose dentures are far from an uncommon issue, and several solutions exist to get you chewing comfortably again.
First, your dentist will need to evaluate the condition of your gums and your existing dentures. This evaluation will help your dentist decide on the best course of action. In most cases, a hard or soft denture reline will be the best approach to restore your existing dentures. Relines aren't necessarily permanent solutions, but a hard reline can last many years.
If your dentures are especially poorly fitting, in bad shape, or otherwise not suitable for relines, you may need to replace them altogether. This solution is more permanent, can guarantee a good fit, and restore the aesthetic appearance of your dentures. Your dentist will help you know if replacement is a better option for you than a reline.
Affordable Denture Center has experience dealing with every kind of denture issue. If your dentures fit poorly or cause discomfort, don't hesitate to
contact us immediately to schedule an appointment.
