If you have missing teeth, dentures will improve your appearance and improve your chewing ability. The dental lab technician makes your dentures based on the measurements your dentist took in the office.

There are some factors, however, that can cause your appliances to feel too tight or too loose. These factors include changes in your weight and degenerative diseases of the bones, such as osteoporosis. Here are some consequences of ill-fitting dentures and what you can do about them.

Friction Wounds

Dentures that are too loose slip and slide over your gums. This can cause friction wounds and blisters, and if not addressed it quickly, you may develop an infection. Before your dentist develops a treatment plan, he or she needs to determine why your dentures no longer fit properly.

If you have lost a significant amount of weight, your dentures will need to be relined so that they fit again. In some cases, your dentures will need to be replaced. If your weight loss is unintentional, make an appointment with your physician to find out why you are losing weight without trying.

If your friction wounds are sore, rinse your mouth with a weak saltwater solution to help ease the pain and to speed healing. Salt water also has antibacterial properties to reduce your risk of infection. 

Tongue Injuries

An ill-fitting denture can also raise your risk for tongue injuries. When your dentures slide out of place, you may try to keep them from falling out by stabilizing them with your tongue. This can make you accidentally bite your tongue.

Also, if you dentures are too tight, your chewing ability may be impaired, which may also cause you to bite your tongue your side of your cheek. The tongue is very vascular, so if you bite it, it will bleed profusely.

To stop the bleeding after biting your tongue, apply pressure to the affected area with a paper towel folded into a small square. If holding the paper towel over the wound fails to stop the bleeding, wrap an ice cube in a paper towel and apply it to the injury.

The coldness of the ice will constrict the blood vessels of your tongue so that the bleeding slows down. If the bleeding persists, seek emergency medical treatment. You may need a couple of stitches to close the wound and a tetanus shot to prevent an infection. 

If your dentures don't fit properly, make an appointment with your dentist. After a complete oral examination, your dentist will determine if your dentures should be relined or replaced.