When receiving dentures, it’s common to experience some slight discomfort as part of the adjustment phase. Usually occurring in the weeks (or months) following your initial retrieval, it takes time for your mouth to become more familiar with these new additions to your smile. However, if you notice that your discomfort increases, or you’ve been wearing your dentures for a while now and suddenly find they no longer fit as they should, don’t wait to get help. In the meantime, discover what kind of potential complications can arise when it comes to ill-fitting dentures.
Slurred Speech
Once your dentures are in place, you’ll begin to appreciate your ability to speak clearly instead of with a lisp or another similar impediment. However, if your dentures do not fit properly, they can begin to move around inside your mouth, especially if you do not use denture adhesive.
The result can be low self-esteem, which causes embarrassment when faced with social situations. You might also miss out on professional opportunities because of your inability to enunciate various words and sounds.
Worsening Pain
Wearing snug-fitting dentures is important, as it ensures they remain in place. While there will likely be some initial discomfort as a result, it will go away with an over-the-counter pain reliever. Should you find, though, that the pain you’re experiencing is not going away with time, it may be that your dentures no longer fit as they should.
This new development can lead to frequent headaches as well as jaw and ear pain before morphing into temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
Poor Nutrition
Tooth loss can make it hard to eat the foods you love yet once receiving your new dentures, you can begin to enjoy some of your favorite meals once again. Unfortunately, if your prosthetic teeth feel uncomfortable, it can have a negative effect on your diet and overall health.
If you experience pain each time you try to bite down or chew, you may find yourself avoiding mealtimes or choosing quick, easy, and less healthy foods as opposed to those that are packed with nutritional benefits. What you’re left with is malnutrition, which can create problems for your gut, brain, and other vital organs.
How to Address Ill-Fitting Dentures
The moment you realize something is wrong with your dentures, call and schedule an appointment with your dentist. The sooner you seek help, the quicker you’ll be back to enjoying life with healthy, comfortable teeth.
Your dentist may suggest relining your dentures or replacing them altogether. No matter the decision, you’ll leave with a more comfortable prosthetic that doesn’t slide or slip out of place.
About the Authors
Dr. Aaron Swingdorf and Dr. Luke Viall are dental experts who provide custom-made dentures as a way to restore and rebuild patients’ smiles. Using only the best materials to produce a natural-looking appearance, they provide helpful ways to keep these teeth in place day after day. If you or a loved one begins to notice that your dentures no longer fit comfortably, contact us at (952) 448-4151 or visit our website to find out how we can help.
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