Dental Health Effects of Poor Fitting Dentures By Tammy Davenport Tammy Davenport is a dental assistant with experience on the clinical and administrative side. Learn about our editorial process Tammy Davenport Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Sumaya Ibraheem, DDS on November 16, 2019 linkedin Sumaya Ibraheem, DDS, is a general dentist practicing in New York, and a member of the American Dental Association and New York State Dental Association. Learn about our Medical Review Board Sumaya Ibraheem, DDS Updated on December 10, 2019 Print As people age, their dentures don’t change, but their mouths do. If you have false teeth, they should fit and you should be wearing them. Proper care and regular dental visits are important factors for keeping your mouth healthy and your dentures in good shape. Henglein and Steets / Cultura / Science Photo Library Problems From Poor Fitting Dentures With age, the gum ridges in our mouths can shrink, causing dentures to become loose. Bone can also shrink, causing jaws not to line up properly. Loose or ill-fitting dentures can cause sore spots in your mouth as well as stomach problems from not being able to chew food properly. A loose denture could also cause changes in your facial features. When Do Dentures Need to Be Replaced? If your dentures are in a drawer because they just “don’t feel right”, they are loose or make sore spots in your mouth, you should see a dentist to have them evaluated and possibly adjusted, relined or remade. If the teeth in your dentures are considerably worn out, talk to your dentist about having some new ones made. It is also important to continue with regular dental visits to make sure your teeth are fitting properly as well as to be examined for any signs of oral cancer. Your dentist can tell you how often you need to come in for check-ups. Why You Shouldn’t Repair Dentures Yourself When a dentist repairs or adjusts dentures, he uses dental materials that are made specifically for dentures and only available to dentists. Over-the-counter products usually contain chemicals that will actually harm your dentures and cause greater damage. Only your dentist should adjust or repair your dentures. Caring for Your Dentures Proper care can keep your dentures and your mouth in good shape. You should brush your dentures every day with a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove food and plaque. The same goes for your gums and tongue. When you are not wearing your dentures, they should always be kept in water (not hot) or in a denture solution recommended by your dentist. Caring for Dentures Is Easier Than You Think Don’t Forget to Smile! With proper care and regular dental visits, your dentures should fit good and stay in good shape for a long time. Your dentist will let you know when they need to be replaced. In the meantime, take care of your dentures, visit your dentist regularly and get out there and smile. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Green J. Repair poorly fitting, damaged or broken false teeth. Colgate.com. Updated 2019.