How To Get Dentures To Fit Better?

Dentures are a wonderful invention, for sure – but when they aren’t fitting right, they can turn into a bit of a nightmare.

If you have been wondering how to get dentures to fit better then you aren’t alone – let’s have a look into this problem together, and see if we can’t bring back your smile!

How To Get Dentures To Fit Better

If your dentures are starting to feel a little loose, don’t panic. It is caused by the natural changes of your mouth, but there are ways you can fix it.

Your first step should be to talk to your dentist – these professionals really know what they’re doing, and can help improve your smile.

Your prosthetist can “reline” your dentures – adding another layer to the inside of them – making them a better fit for your mouth.

In severe cases, you might need a whole new set of dentures, but hopefully you and your bank balance can avoid this until its absolutely necessary!

If they are only a little loose, you can invest in some dental adhesive that can help them fit more snugly to your gums.

Keeping a good eye on the cleanliness and maintenance of your dentures will also help them to fit you better, and help them to last longer too.

Look after the dentures, and the dentures will look after you, as the old saying goes! Make sure you keep them clean, and always soak them overnight to maintain their shape.

How Can I Make My Dentures Fit At Home

If you are having problems with your dentures, the best thing to do is talk to your dentist. However, if they are not too bad, there are some things you can do at home.

• Try different types of adhesive. Changing the type of adhesive you use may just fix the problem, so do some experimenting.
• Take good care of them. Dentures can actually change shape if they are not well cared for, so make sure you follow the instructions from your dentist on how to look after them.
• Soak them overnight. Dentures are actually pretty supple, and can warp if they are not kept moist.
• It is not recommended, despite some videos showing you how, to adjust your dentures with tools at home. You can damage or break them, so leave that to your dentist!
• Clean them with specialist denture cleaners, not standard toothpaste, as this can damage them.

Dentures not fitting can make you very uncomfortable, so it’s important to get them sorted as soon as possible.

This video explains how dentists can help you to make your dentures fit better by using the relining technique, and what happens if this doesn’t work:

What Causes Poor Fitting Dentures?

Dentures, if properly and professionally fitted by your dentist, should be the perfect fit in your mouth.

However, even if this was done initially, there are a few factors that can cause your dentures to become ill-fitting over time.

As we age, our mouths can lose gum and bone density, which can cause dentures to start slipping.

Badly-fitting dentures can cause gum irritation, blisters, trouble chewing your food, stomach problems from incorrectly chewed food, bite issues, and even chronic headaches and gagging.

If you find that you are losing gum ridges and bone density, you will almost certainly start to notice your dentures not fitting as well as they did before.

Sadly there is nothing you can do about this yourself – a trip to your dentist is definitely in order!

Your dentist can help solve the problem, either by adjusting the current dentures or by making an entirely new set that fit better.

How Tight Should Dentures Fit?

The whole idea of dentures is that they replace your teeth that have either fallen out or been removed.

Ideally, you want to hardly even notice that you HAVE dentures; they should feel just as secure as ordinary teeth do.

They need to feel secure in your mouth, so that you aren’t worried about them flying out if you burst out laughing, or simply talk to a friend!

You need your dentures to be secure enough that you can chew your food; if they are loose then you will not be able to bite or chew properly.

When you first get your dentures, they may feel tighter than is comfortable, but this is normal discomfort that should settle down within 2-4 weeks.

How Do You Know If Dentures Fit Right?

If your dentures fit right, they should be comfortable and you should be able to eat, drink, talk and do all the things you have always done.

If dentures DON’T fit, you will soon know about it! Here are some things to look out for:

• Slipping out. This is the stuff of nightmares, isn’t it? If your dentures pop out when you talk, laugh or sneeze, they definitely need to be refitted at the dentist.
• Sores. If your dentures fit badly, they can rub against your gums and cause irritation and denture sores.
• Pain. If your dentures are causing you chronic pain, they may be too tight, or moving around when you chew.
• Trouble eating. If you aren’t able to chew your food properly or you find yourself gravitating to the soup option more frequently, this is a sign that your dentures need checking.
• Hard to clean. If you are noticing a lot of food build up and residue inside your dentures, they may need to be refitted.
• Gum infections. If food and bacteria start getting up under the dentures because they aren’t correctly fitted, you can end up with painful infections.

Final Thoughts

Having perfectly fitting dentures is the best thing in the world – you can chew, smile and talk, all as if your own teeth were still present and correct!

Once you’ve figured out how to get dentures to fit better, you’re well on the way to barely even noticing that they are not your actual teeth.