Dentures can be life-changing for people dealing with tooth loss, renewing their health, opening up their diet, and boosting their self-confidence at the same time. However, that’s only true if the prosthetic fits properly. An uneven or loose denture can actually cause more problems than it solves, and if any of the following annoyances sound familiar, it’s time to contact your dentist to have your teeth relined, repaired, or replaced.
Swollen/Sore Gums
If a denture is shifting around your mouth or experiences pressure on one side more than the other, this can create tender spots or even blisters on your gums.
Speech Difficulties
Are there certain words or syllables you struggle with that used to be no issue? If you find yourself consistently stumbling, this is a clear sign that your denture isn’t sitting how it’s supposed to. Some people even develop a lisp that wasn’t there when they initially got their new teeth.
Uneven Bite
When you bring your teeth together, do they feel “right”? Does it seem like your teeth touch at the same time and with the same amount of force? Well, it should! If not, this could be throwing off your bite and causing certain teeth (real or artificial) to wear down faster than normal and eventually crack.
Trouble Eating
Does it hurt when you chew? Can you not trust your teeth to stay in place when eating certain foods? Do you avoid some items entirely because they aren’t worth the pain or worry that your teeth will fall out? Well-fitted dentures should enable you to eat whatever you like. One of the biggest benefits of this treatment is that it helps patients look forward to mealtime again.
Headaches
Yes, persistent headaches can stem from an ill-fitting denture. Essentially, if your bite is off, this can cause a lot of tension and strain to develop in your jaw and face muscles, and this can easily radiate into the head. If you’re getting headaches on a regular basis and haven’t before, your head might be fine—your dentures may be the problem!
About the Author
Dr. Krysten Jackson and Dr. Eric Parsons are husband-and-wife restorative and implant dentists who graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. Dr. Jackson completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency there, and Dr. Parsons is constantly training to use the latest technology to deliver the most comfortable and effective treatment possible. If you’d like to learn more about updating your denture or our other options for replacing missing teeth, schedule an appointment at El Reno Family Dentistry today.