Dentures are a great, affordable way to restore the appearance and function of your smile. Even those with the most extreme cases of tooth loss can get their smiles back. Most denture wearers report that their upper dentures feel secure and comfortable. However, some people find that their lower dentures don’t feel quite the same. There are several reasons why this can happen. Continue reading to learn the most common as well as some tips and tricks to help.
Why Aren’t My Lower Dentures Staying in Place?
- Flat/Negative Ridge: If you have adequate bone height and width, your lower denture is more likely to stay in place. This is especially the case if your lower ridge is “U-shaped.” However, if you have been missing teeth for a long time or have a flatter bone, it’s more difficult for the lower denture to remain 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.
- Lack of Saliva: A major factor in denture retention is saliva. Saliva is helpful in aiding the suction of a denture. If you don’t have enough or it is too thick, your denture may not fit as well.
- Impatience: Dentures take some time to get used to. You won’t become an expert overnight. You will need to adapt to how they feel and function against the surrounding structure.
3 Ways to Improve the Stability of Your Bottom Dentures
- Reline: Relines are necessary from time to time 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 too.
- Denture 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 may want to try resting your tongue in a different position in your mouth to avoid dislodging your denture.
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, the next steps can be taken to make your smile fit comfortably.
About the Practice
At Taylor Choice Dental, we have a team of skilled dentists serving the Taylor community. With their combined experience and expertise, patients can get pretty much anything they need under one roof. If your dentures don’t fit well, we’d be happy to help. For more information on dentures or to schedule an appointment, visit our website or call (737) 758-3676.