How to Treat Denture Pain until a Dentist Can File Them

Co-authored by Janice Tieperman Medically reviewed by Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS

Last Updated: October 6, 2023 Fact Checked

Dentures will address the problem of missing teeth, but they may be uncomfortable or require periodic adjustments. When you first get them, you may notice a few sharp places that need adjustment. In addition, after a few years of wearing them, normal wear and tear will accumulate, and you’ll need to repair or replace them. Do not to try to fix them yourself at home, as you can damage your dentures.^{[1]
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Method 1

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At-Home Solutions for Denture Pain

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Know the risks of filing down dentures yourself. If you try to file your dentures yourself, you risk damaging them beyond repair. As dentures are expensive, you risk losing a large amount of money if you try filing them yourself. It's always best to ask your prosthodontist or dentist to adjust them.^{[2]
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Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS
Board Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon

Expert Interview. 5 November 2020.}
- If you cannot get to a dentist soon and the pain is severe, try using a nail file or a fingernail drill to file down the painful point or area. Take off as little of the denture material as possible and tell your dentist where you needed to make an adjustment.
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Try dental adhesives. When you first get dentures, your mouth needs time to adjust to the new teeth. To help your mouth out, use dental adhesives to hold them in place for the first few days.^{[3]
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US Food and Drug Administration
U.S. government agency responsible for promoting public health

Go to source} Eventually, though, the muscles in your mouth should adjust to keep your dentures in place, so you should only need to use them for a short time. The adhesive is helpful when you have pain as it holds your denture still in your mouth. Movement against an already sore spot can lead to an ulcer.^{[4]
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- You can also use adhesives as a temporary measure when they start to become loose after years of wearing. However, you need to have your dentist reline your dentures when they become loose, so you should only use the glue for a short while.^{[5]
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- Every adhesive is a bit different. However, in general, you take the dentures out of your mouth and clean them. Shake some of the powder onto the gum side of the dentures. Put your dentures back in. Cream adhesive must be applied to a dry denture in order to work. Rinse your mouth, place the denture onto a wet gum, and then wait five minutes before eating or drinking anything.^{[6]
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One option some people use for helping to relieve pain, especially with new dentures, is to place them in the freezer. When you take them out, the cold will help soothe the pain in your gums.^{[7]
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Creams such as benzocaine topical can provide temporary relief from pain. Simply rub the cream on the painful area in your mouth, and it will numb the pain. Baby teething gel is available in most supermarkets. There are much stronger medications available, but if cost or accessibility is a problem, then the baby gel is a good option. It is very safe and gives reasonable relief to sore spots on your gums.^{[8]
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If other options don't help, go ahead and take your dentures out for a bit—that will at least provide pain relief. See your dentist for help.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Having Your Dentist Fix Your Teeth

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If you just got your dentures and they are not fitting properly, your dentist should work with you to get them adjusted properly. You shouldn't be experiencing sharp pains, at the very least.^{[9]
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Research source} Tell your dentist where it is hurting, and ask him or her to look for small surface tags or irregularities that may need to be filed down. You should also inform your dentist if you've had any bleeding or gum pain in the first few days of wearing the dentures.
After your dentist identifies any issues with your dentures, they may recommend trimming them down.^{[10]
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After trimming, your dentist can polish the dentures (except for the tissue surface, which would alter the fit). Polishing will make your dentures smoother, and can also help prevent bacteria from developing in your mouth.^{[11]
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Reline dentures after years of wearing. After you wear dentures for a period of time, they start to wear down, which means they won't fit as well. Most of the time, your dentist can reline them to fit better again. Sometimes, you may need new dentures.^{[12]
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- Relining just means that your dentist refits the bottom portion of the denture.^{[13]
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- You can have a soft reline or a hard reline. Soft relines last for a couple of years, and can be completed in the dentist’s office. Hard relines last for around 5 years, but are more expensive and can’t be completed in a single day.^{[14]
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Another less common procedure is rebasing—this is typically done after your gum line recedes a significant amount. The downside to this process is your dentist must keep your dentures for a few days. However, they should fit better when they come back to you.^{[15]
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Once the dentures are examined, trimmed, and polished, your dentist will evaluate the fit. Let your dentist know if anything feels painful or uncomfortable.^{[16]
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National Health Service (UK)
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Expert Q&A

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What is the best way to eat with new dentures?

Cristian Macau, DDS
Doctor of Dental Surgery
Dr. Macau is a Doctor of Dental Surgery based in London, England. Dr. Macau is an oral surgeon, periodontist, and aesthetician at Favero Dental Clinic where he is known for his cosmetic dentistry and facial aesthetics work. He is actively involved in scientific research in the field of dentistry and he received his DDS from Carol Davila University of Medicine in 2015.

Cristian Macau, DDS

Doctor of Dental Surgery

Expert Answer

There can be a transitory period until you get used to them. If the feeling does not pass after a week and you find it hard to eat with them, make an appointment with your dentist. It is possible that the back margin of the denture is too long and touches the reflex centers in the back of your throat.

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My new upper dentures are making me gag. Why is this happening?

Cristian Macau, DDS
Doctor of Dental Surgery
Dr. Macau is a Doctor of Dental Surgery based in London, England. Dr. Macau is an oral surgeon, periodontist, and aesthetician at Favero Dental Clinic where he is known for his cosmetic dentistry and facial aesthetics work. He is actively involved in scientific research in the field of dentistry and he received his DDS from Carol Davila University of Medicine in 2015.

Cristian Macau, DDS

Doctor of Dental Surgery

Expert Answer

If you have them for the first time, you should eat with them as much as you can and wear them for longer periods in order to get used to them quickly. You should eat soft food. Try not to bite into hard pieces of food, such as apples, meat, or carrots. Always cut these foods into smaller pieces. Masticate with care in the beginning to avoid biting your tongue or cheeks.

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Question

Is it okay to file my dentures?

Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS
Board Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon
Dr. Pradeep Adatrow is the only board certified Dentist, Periodontist, and Prosthodontist in the southern United States. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Adatrow specializes in dental implants, TMJ treatments, periodontal plastic surgery, surgical and non-surgical periodontics, bone regeneration, laser treatments, and soft tissue and gum graft procedures. He received a BS in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Alabama and earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry. Dr. Adatrow then completed a three-year postgraduate program in periodontics and implantology at Indiana University and went on to complete another three-year postdoctoral program in advanced prosthodontics from the University of Tennessee. He also serves as a full-time professor and the Director of Surgical Prosthodontics at the University of Tennessee. Dr. Adatrow received the Dean's Junior Faculty Award and the John Diggs Faculty Award, and he was inducted into the Deans Odontological Society. He is board certified by the American Board of Periodontology and is a Fellow of the prestigious International College of Dentistry – a feat that only 10,000 others worldwide can claim.

Pradeep Adatrow, DDS, MS

Board Certified Dentist & Oral Surgeon

Expert Answer

It's best to have them adjusted by your dentist, who has the expertise to do so. If you file your own dentures, it's going to be at your own risk. Dentures are expensive and time-consuming treatments, and when you file them, you might alter and compromise their fit. You might even have to have them replaced.

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Tips

Don’t wait until you have extremely uncomfortable dentures to see your dentist. Get regular dental check-ups and make sure that your dentist checks your dentures often.^{[17]
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Warnings

It is not medically recommended to file, sand, or adjust your dentures yourself. Using the wrong materials or filing them down too far can break them or make them fit worse. See your dentist instead.^{[18]
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