Denture stomatitis, or denture sores, affect approximately 67 percent of wearers, especially those with a full set. Though they can be caused by many things, they are most typically attributed to bacteria in your mouth or pressure on your nerves from the prosthetics themselves.
Here’s how you can reduce your risk of developing these painful sores and a few ways to alleviate some of the discomfort if you already have them.
Preventing Denture Sores
The easiest way to treat denture sores is to never get them at all. Thankfully, there are many steps you can take to prevent them from developing in the first place. These include:
- Removing your dentures each night before bed and soaking them in water or denture soak while they are out.
- Keeping them clean by completely removing them from your mouth and scrubbing all surfaces with a soft-bristled toothbrush and mild cleanser or hand soap, ensuring that you rinse them well.
- Flossing between each tooth daily.
- Eating only soft foods when you get a new pair of dentures, and then avoiding using them to anything too crunchy or sticky going forward.
- If your dentures are new, using a denture adhesive until your mouth is used to them so they stay in place and don’t irritate your gums.
- Avoiding any food that is acidic, hot, spicy, or excessively salty, as these can all irritate sensitive gums.
Home Remedies to Ease the Pain of Denture Sores
If you already have denture sores, eliminating pain can make wearing your dentures much easier. Here are a few tried-and-true ways to get some much-needed relief:
- Use a topical anesthetic with benzocaine directly on the sores.
- Rinse your mouth with salty water four or five times a day to soothe your mouth and keep denture sores clean.
- Use an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to manage discomfort.
- Take your dentures out every night, even if you don’t have sores, and keep them soaking in water or denture soak so they don’t become damaged.
Remember, while denture sores can be extremely painful, you don’t need to accept them as fact. With the help of the above tips, you can easily prevent them from developing and ease the discomfort of any that have already formed. If these suggestions still don’t help, schedule an appointment with your dentist to have yours evaluated, as you could need an adjustment or replacement pair.
About Our Practice
At Shinkawa Dental, you get the benefit of not just one but three skilled and caring dentists! Dr. Gerald T. Shinkawa and his daughter and son Dr. Nicole E. Shinkawa and Dr. Adam H. Shinkawa want to welcome you and your family to their family! Whether you need routine care, would like a cosmetic dentistry treatment, or you have no natural teeth and wear dentures, our team is honored that Fresno patients just like you have entrusted us with your oral health for over 45 years!
To schedule an appointment for dentures, please visit our website or call us today at 559-226-5656.