Are Your New Dentures Making Your Gums Look Pale?

Wearing dentures for the first time or breaking in a new set of teeth can take a little getting used to. Dentures can make your mouth feel strange for a while; however, you normally get used to them quite quickly. Sometimes, however, you may notice changes in your mouth, such as paler gum colour, that may be down to denture problems. How can you tell if your dentures are making your gums paler than usual?

Cleaning Problems

Sometimes, food gets stuck in dentures and, if you don't clean this out, it may make your gums look an odd colour. Like teeth, dentures should be cleaned regularly and thoroughly. This includes the inside of the denture as well as its teeth. Take a look at your dentures. If the parts that fit over your gums or the plates look a bit fuzzy or have food particles in them, then your dentures need a clean. If brushing your dentures with a soft brush and your regular denture cleaner don't get them clean enough, try soaking your teeth in a fizzy denture cleaning solution overnight.

Remember that you also need to clean your gums regularly, even if don't have any natural teeth left. If you haven't started doing this yet, then your colour change could be down to residue left behind from your dentures that you haven't cleaned off. Clean your gums with a soft-bristled toothbrush or a cloth to see if this makes a difference.

Denture Fit Issues

Although dentures should fit snugly in your mouth, they may pinch or put pressure on your gums if they are too tight. This may make all or parts of your gums look pale. If this is the root of your problem, you should see your gums flush back to a deeper colour after you've had your dentures out for a while.

If your dentures rub against your gums too much, then you may get sore spots or sores on your gums. If this is the case, your gums may not be pale all over, but may have small patches of a lighter colour.

If upping your cleaning game doesn't have any effects on your gum colour, or you think you have a denture fit problem, then make an appointment to see your dentist. Your dentist can check your dentures over and can also check your gums to try to find the source of the colour change.