Managing Denture Sores: Will Aloe Vera Help?

Dentist Blog

It can take your mouth some time to get used to wearing dentures, especially if you've opted for a full set of false teeth. During the transition process, your mouth may be in pain as it adjusts to your new teeth; you may get sores if your teeth rub against your gums and soft tissues. While this isn't typically a permanent problem, denture sores can make it harder to wear your teeth comfortably. Your mouth may be painful, and you may also find it hard to eat. If you're looking for a natural way to manage your pain and get your sores on a healing track, then you may want to consider the soothing benefits of aloe vera.

How Aloe Vera Works on Denture Sores

Aloe vera is one of nature's best-known moisturisers and anti-inflammatories. There is evidence that the cooling properties of this plant can relieve pain and reduce swelling in the mouth. Aloe vera also works as an antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal solution for a variety of skin and soft tissue problems.

If you're suffering from denture sores, applying aloe vera to your mouth may help you manage your pain and discomfort. The plant extract may also help you tackle any fungal issues if your dentures sores aren't just caused by rubbing but by fungal growth.

How to Apply Aloe Vera to Denture Sores

There are various ways you can take aloe vera orally. If your sores are particularly painful and are also making your mouth drier than usual, you may get the best relief by rubbing an aloe vera gel directly on to the affected areas of your mouth.

If you prefer to get general oral relief, you can use an aloe vera juice as an impromptu mouthwash. This may work particularly well if you keep the juice refrigerated so that it is cold when you put it into your mouth.

Warning: If you're using pure aloe vera juice to wash around denture ulcers and then drinking the juice, make sure to read the directions first. Aloe vera is also a natural laxative and drinking too much may give you stomach problems.

You can also apply aloe vera to your mouth through your dental hygiene routine. For example, you may get some relief from brushing your gums with a toothpaste that contains aloe vera or from using a mouthwash that contains the plant extract.

To prevent denture sores from getting worse, it's also important to make sure that you clean your false teeth and your gums every day. Once you can leave your dentures out at night, you should do this. This gives your gums and mouth a chance to rest up and may speed up your recovery process. If your denture sores don't settle down after a few weeks of wearing new dentures, it's worth going back to the denture clinic to have the fit checked. Your dentist may be able to make your dentures more comfortable or may have some additional advice on how to handle your sore mouth.

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7 June 2016

Dental Care and Seniors: Helping to Maintain Your Smile

As you age, it can become harder to take care of your teeth. Motor challenges can make it hard to floss, while memory issues may make it easy to overlook brushing. Whether you are a senior looking for solutions to some of the common dental problems or a senior with specific questions about cavities or oral surgery, you have come to the right place. In this blog, I am going to touch on a range of topics related to seniors and oral health. This is the type of resource I wish my mum would have had access to in her senior years, and I hope you enjoy having access to it during yours. I appreciate you reading my posts.