Dentures take the place of natural teeth. A person may lose teeth due to an injury, tooth decay or from gum disease. Several types of dentures can help restore functions of the mouth such as eating and talking. Individuals with no teeth have full dentures and partial dentures replace sections of teeth. Individuals with dentures need to continue to visit the dentist regularly. The dentist will examine the gums and jaw bone to check for signs of oral cancers, infections or other complications from the dentures.
Mouth Irritation
Irritation to the mouth may occur while wearing dentures. Ill-fitting dentures can slip around and create sores in the mouth. When first wearing dentures, they may slip a bit due to excessive amounts of saliva in the mouth. The slipping of the dentures may cause soreness and irritation in the mouth. This condition is normal and will improve over time, according to the American Dental Association. Using adhesives to hold the dentures in place can help decrease the movement of the denture.
Oral Thrush
Oral thrush occurs due to a fungal infection in the mouth. The fungus Candida albicans can overgrow in the mouth and cause symptoms such as white lesions on the tongue and cheeks. Babies can also develop oral thrush. Additional risk factors for developing an oral thrush infection include having a weakened immune system, smoking and wearing dentures. Antifungal medications will help treat the oral thrush.
Burning Mouth Syndrome
Dentures can place stress on the muscles in the face and the tissues in the mouth, according to MayoClinic.com. This stress can cause mouth pain. This pain, referred to as burning mouth syndrome, can also cause soreness in the mouth that progressively gets worse throughout the day, increased thirst and loss of taste. Dentures may contain a metal that can cause the burning mouth syndrome for individuals with an allergy to the material.
Halitosis
Halitosis, commonly referred to as bad breath, may occur in people who wear dentures. Poor oral hygiene and poor denture care can cause bacteria to remain in the mouth. The bacteria may cause plaque to form on the dentures, the tongue and the gums in the mouth. Practicing good oral hygiene by brushing the gums and tongue each day as well as the dentures can help prevent halitosis.
