Dentures too big for mouth? Wearing ill-fitting dentures is never worth the pain and discomfort they produce.
Dentures are a convenient and cost-effective alternative to dental implants, particularly when you need several or even all of your teeth replaced. However, a good fit is absolutely key. Wearing dentures that are either loose or too big for your mouth is bound to cause problems, including redness, swelling, irritation and mouth sores.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about dentures that are too big for your mouth, why the perfect fit is so important, what happens when you wear ill-fitting dentures, and what you can do to ensure the perfect denture fit.
Pros of replacing missing teeth with dentures
There are many good reasons to replace missing teeth with dentures. Here are the top ones:
Dentures are versatile
Dentures are super versatile and can be custom-fitted to your mouth. You can get dentures to replace your upper teeth, your lower teeth, a few missing teeth or even all of them if necessary.
Dentures look and function very much like natural teeth
Well-made dentures are a near-perfect prosthetic that can replace both the appearance and function of natural teeth.
Dentures are cheaper than dental implants
Dentures are a much more cost-effective alternative to dental implants. Implants are great when it comes to replacing one or two missing teeth, but if you need most or all of your teeth replaced, implants may be too expensive.
How to tell if you have ill-fitting dentures
If your dentures are brand new, it is inevitably going to take a while for your mouth to adjust to them. This is true even if your dentures are the perfect size.
During the first few weeks, you are going to feel uncomfortable and you are likely to be highly conscious of the presence of dentures in your mouth. But just like you sometimes have to break in a new pair of shoes, new dentures have to be worn for a few days to a few weeks before they begin to feel comfortable in your mouth.
If your dentures still feel painful and irritating after you have been wearing them for several weeks or even months, you can be fairly certain that you are dealing with a denture size problem. In this case, you will have to return to your dentist for a denture adjustment.
Consequences of wearing ill-fitting dentures
The list of consequences of wearing poorly fitting dentures is long. Here are some of the most prominent problems that can arise when you wear dentures that are too large for your face:
Chafing, irritation and sores
The problems that arise from wearing poorly fitting dentures start with uncomfortable sensations such as chafing, swelling and irritation. These symptoms quickly develop into sores that will have to be attended to.
Sometimes, denture sores can be caused by dentures that are simply new, or by dentures that haven’t been cleaned properly, so make sure you rule out these possibilities before concluding that your dentures don’t fit.
Speech difficulties
If your dentures don’t fit, you may experience speech difficulties.
Dentures that are too large and thick can limit your tongue movement, which can make it difficult to form words.
Bone loss
Jawbone loss is one of the worst potential consequences of wearing badly fitting dentures.
Natural teeth are embedded in the jawbone, so without them, your jawbone no longer receives the support and stimulation it needs. As a result, your body will begin to think that your jawbone is no longer needed, and the bone begins to slowly break down and lose its density.
Jawbone loss means less support for your jaw muscles and skin. Not only can this impact your appearance by making the lower part of your face sag, it also fuels a viscous cycle of further bone loss.
Sunken face
The sunken face that comes from wearing dentures isn’t a consequence of the dentures themselves, but of the gradual loss of your jawbone.
If your dentures are too big or otherwise not the perfect fit, your jawbone is going to decline and your facial muscles sag much faster and more precipitously due to a complete lack of stimulation.
Needless to say, no one wants a sunken face with sagging muscles and a declining jaw. To prevent this from happening as a result of wearing dentures, you and your dentist need to make sure that your dentures fit perfectly.
Misaligned teeth
If your dentures don’t fit well, some of your remaining teeth may begin to shift around in your mouth. This can result in uneven, misaligned teeth.
Misaligned teeth are not only a cosmetic issue, it is also a potential oral health risk. Misaligned teeth can lead to all softs of other complications, such as higher risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
Biting difficulties
If your dentures don’t fit like a hand in a glove, you might experience biting issues including trouble chewing properly and painful chewing. Eating can become a painful and difficult endeavor.
Needless to say, not being able to use your dentures for their intended purpose, which is to replace healthy teeth for biting and chewing food, having dentures loses much of its point.
How to ensure the perfect denture fit
What can you do to ensure that your dentures fit perfectly? Here are our top tips:
Give yourself time to adjust
It takes time to adjust to life with dentures.
If your new dentures feel awkward initially, know that this is perfectly normal. Give yourself a few weeks to adjust to wearing your new full or partial dentures before you conclude that they are too big for your mouth.
Use denture adhesive
Sometimes loose dentures can make it feel like your dentures are too big. Denture adhesive is usually the one solution you need if this is your problem.
Not only is denture adhesive is the most effective way to keep your new smile in place, it can also keep your dentures from chafing and irritating your gums.
Get a refit
If your set of dentures is too big for your mouth, book an appointment with your dentist today.
Wearing dentures that are too large for a few days isn’t an issue, but you shouldn’t be wearing poorly fitting dentures for long.
Frequently asked questions
Why do my dentures feel too big for my mouth?
If your dentures are new – and if you are new to wearing dentures – they are initially going to feel awkward and strange in your mouth. They may feel too big, even if they’re the perfect fit.
The best thing you can do when you have new dentures is to give them a little bit of time to settle into your mouth. Just like a new pair of shoes, new dentures have to be broken in before they feel right.
If, after a few weeks to a few months of wearing them your dentures still don’t feel natural and comfortable in your mouth, it is time to book an appointment with your dentist who can help you with a refit.
Can dentures be resized?
Yes, dentures can be resized.
In fact, dentures often have to be resized to achieve the perfect fit. And achieving the perfect fit is important, because the consequences of wearing badly fitted dentures start at chafing and end with a deteriorating jaw bone and the sunken features this can cause.
Should there be a gap between my denture and the roof of my mouth?
Dentures should ideally be very closely fitting, leaving only a 3mm gap between the dentures and the gum line.