Pain under a denture is a signal that something is rubbing, pressing or infected. It is very common and usually easy to fix, but it should never simply be put up with. Gums that are hurt again and again can thicken, ulcerate or hide a more serious problem.
The common causes
- Pressure spots on a new denture: in the first weeks, small areas where the denture presses harder than elsewhere. They appear as red or white sore patches, often along the edges.
- A loose, old denture: as the bone shrinks, the denture moves when you chew and rubs the gums. Over time this can create flabby folds of gum at the edges.
- Trapped food: seeds, husks, small bones or chilli bits under the denture cause sudden, sharp pain.
- Denture stomatitis: a redness of the gums under the denture, most often under an upper plate, caused by yeast and germs growing on the fitting surface. It is linked to wearing the denture at night and to poor cleaning, and it may be painless or feel sore and burning.
- Oral thrush: white patches that wipe off, leaving red areas. It is more likely with diabetes, after antibiotics, or with steroid inhalers. See our page on oral thrush.
- Dry mouth: without saliva to cushion it, the denture rubs more.
- A broken or rough edge, or a crack in the denture.
- A problem with a remaining tooth under a partial denture, such as decay, an abscess or gum infection.
What you can do today
- Take the denture out and leave it out for a few hours if you can.
- Rinse with warm salt water (half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water) a few times a day.
- Clean the denture thoroughly and leave it out overnight in water or a denture cleanser.
- Eat soft food for a day or two.
- Do not file or scrape the denture yourself. It is very hard to remove the right amount from the right place.
- Do not pile on adhesive or cushion liners bought from a shop to stop the pain. They can hide the sore and make the fit worse.
Before your dental visit
If possible, wear the denture for a few hours before your appointment. This sounds odd, but it makes the sore spot visible, so your dentist can see exactly where to ease the denture. Bring your denture even if it is too painful to wear.
What your dentist will do
- Find and smooth pressure points, often in a few minutes.
- Check the bite, since uneven contact pushes the denture onto one area.
- Reline a loose denture or advise a new one.
- Treat stomatitis or thrush with cleaning advice and, if needed, antifungal medicine.
- Check the remaining natural teeth under a partial denture.
When to be more concerned
Any ulcer, lump, or red or white patch that has not healed within two weeks after the denture has been adjusted must be examined. This matters most if you have used tobacco, gutkha or supari. Most such sores are harmless, but early oral cancer can look like a denture sore, and it is far easier to treat when found early. Your dentist may refer you to our MDS Oral Medicine department for a closer look. Our page on denture sore mouth covers this topic further.
