Dentures are an excellent, affordable way to restore the appearance and function of your smile. Even people with the most extreme cases of tooth loss can get their smiles back. However, while many denture wearers find that their top denture feels secure and comfortable, their bottom one doesn’t feel the same way. There are several reasons why this can occur. Read on to learn about the most common as well as some tips to help.
Why Isn’t My Lower Denture Staying Put?
• Flat/Negative Ridge: If you have adequate bone height and width, your lower denture is more likely to stay put. This is especially the case if your lower ridge is “U”-shaped. However, if you have been missing teeth for a while or have a flatter bone, it’s more difficult for the lower denture to stay in place.
• Inadequate Denture Border Length: The sides of the denture are called the borders. The borders need to be the right length and width to create a good seal.
• Dry Mouth: Saliva helps with denture suction to the gums. If you don’t have enough saliva or it’s too thick, your denture may not fit as well.
• Impatience: Dentures take some time to adjust to. You won’t become an expert right away. You need to adapt to how they function.
How to Improve Denture Stability:
• Reline: Denture relines are needed every few years to readapt to your current ridge anatomy. This works by reshaping the base of your denture. Your mouth is constantly changing, so your dentures need to change as well.
• Adhesive: Using a small amount of denture adhesive can help to keep it in place. Just remember that when it comes to this type of product, more isn’t better. If your dentures don’t stay in with a minimal amount of adhesive, you should see your dentist to have them looked at.
• Practice: Time and patience are needed to train the muscles of your face and tongue to get used to the denture. You need to chew on both sides of your mouth evenly to avoid excessive pressure on one side. You also might want to try resting your tongue in a different position in your mouth to avoid dislodging your replacement teeth.
If your denture isn’t staying in place like it used to, it’s worthwhile to have it looked at by your dentist. This way, they can help to make your dentures feel more comfortable and stable in your mouth.
About the Practice
At Richland Dental, Dr. Siddharth Talsania and Dr. Mansi Talsania work together to serve patients in the Richardson area. If you are having trouble with the fit of your dentures, they would be happy to take a look. To learn more about dentures or to schedule an appointment at their practice, visit their website or call (972) 200-8006.