A perfectly healthy set of pearly whites can be a huge plus for anyone, giving you a reason to smile. But there are times when one can’t help but settle for the next best thing: dentures.

While dentures can replace teeth lost due to periodontal disease, cavities, or injury, they may not be as good as your natural teeth. While dentures can be valuable for preventing facial muscles from sagging and for other health reasons, they can also cause their fair share of pain and discomfort. Some of the times when dentures can cause a lot of discomfort are during the fitting phase (when dentures are new) and after a few years of wear (when they start to look bad).

During the adjustment phase, you may find that your dentures have a tendency to slip while you talk and eat. Sometimes you can even develop painful mouth sores as a result of this adjustment period! Fortunately, you will find that after a while, you will get more used to your dentures and everything will be perfectly fine for several years.

However, the absence of natural teeth eventually causes the bony crest of the gums to shrink due to lack of stimulation. Since plastic dentures remain the same, you may find yourself in a painfully awkward situation once again.

But why suffer from dental discomfort when you can avoid it? Here are some effective solutions that can help you prevent the problem from happening.

1. Try to keep your teeth clean. Keeping your dentures clean, especially during the fitting period, is a must. During this time, it is very important to keep the presence of bacteria to a minimum, as they can slow down the healing process. As you get used to your new chompers, you can brush them at least twice a day. Using toothpaste or a special denture cleanser and clean water may suffice for this purpose. By the way, if you want to keep your teeth sparkling, you can also brush them with soap and water!

2. Don’t forget to brush your gums too! Brushing your gums doesn’t just help fight plaque and bacteria. It also provides the stimulation needed to keep the tissues under the gums healthy.

3. Soft foods are the way to go. It is advisable to “pamper” the mouth during the adjustment period. The gums are still in the healing process and need time to adjust to the pressure exerted by the new dentures. Once your gums have healed properly, you can always go back to enjoying the foods you used to eat. Just avoid eating hard-to-chew foods like apples and corn on the cob.

4. Take the sting out of pain by taking pain relievers. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, aspirin, and ibuprofen can effectively eliminate the pain caused by new dentures.

5. Relieve pain by taking time off: In most cases, you can relieve gum pain by taking your dentures off for an hour or two. If you find that you have developed a red spot, don’t wear your dentures for a day. If that still doesn’t work, go see your dentist.

6. Saltwater Magic: Whether you’re in the adjustment period or have been wearing your dentures for quite some time, you can always benefit from a warm saltwater mouthwash. Not only does it help ward off those nasty bacteria, it also helps harden your gum tissues! For best results, remove your dentures and rinse your mouth with a saltwater mixture (1/2 teaspoon of salt per 4 ounces of warm water) every 3 to 4 hours.

7. Always have a professional hand to take care of the adjustments. Never make adjustments to your dentures yourself. It can probably do more harm than good and may cost you more in the long run. Adjusting the fit of dentures with a pocket knife or filling in the gaps between the dentures and gum tissues with over-the-counter adhesives is a big no-no! Always seek the help of your dentist when you need to readjust the fit of your dentures.

8. Go without dentures when you go to sleep. Like any part of the body, the gums also need to rest, so don’t forget to remove your dentures before you hit the sheets!