Mistake #1: Wearing Dentures All Day and Night
Give Your Gums a Break – Or Pay the Price
You might think sleeping in your dentures is no big deal. Your Grandma Tilly did it, so why can’t you? Maybe you just don’t want your partner to see you without them. I get it. But let me be clear – wearing your dentures 24/7 is a mistake and a one-way ticket to problems you don’t want.
When you keep dentures in all the time, your gums never get a chance to rest. This isn’t just about “comfort.” It’s about infection, inflammation, and serious health risks. Studies show the mistake of wearing dentures overnight:
- Increases plaque buildup on the tongue and denture
- Blocks saliva from reaching the soft tissues, which means no natural cleansing
- Raises your risk of denture stomatitis by nearly 240%
- Increases your risk of aspirational pneumonia by 2.3x, especially if you’re elderly or have trouble swallowing.
- Speeds bone loss in the jawbones
Here’s the truth: you need to take them out at night. Let your gums “breathe,” let your saliva do its healing work, and soak your dentures in water or cleanser overnight.
The only exception? Right after surgery, your dentist might tell you to wear them round-the-clock for a few days to help shape your healing gums and limit bleeding. Outside of that window – take them out. Every night. No excuses.
If you’re hiding them from your spouse or significant other, you are not alone. Many people feel embarrassed. But trust me – a fungal infection and raw, swollen gums are way more embarrassing than having a heart-to-heart about your dentures. If you are still not ready for that conversation, even sneaking a few hours of relief when you are alone is better than nothing.
Another reason to remove your dentures at night is to reduce the risk of accelerated bone loss. More bone loss leads to a less stable denture. Less stable dentures result in more ulcerations and sores in your gum tissues. Less stable dentures move more making it difficult to eat, talk, and live a confident life. Click here for more information about bone loss in the jaws from sleeping with your dentures.
Bottom line: Your dentures need a break, and so do your gums. Take them out at night. Clean them. Let your tissues recover. It’s not optional – it’s essential! Don’t make the mistake of sleeping with your dentures in your mouth!
Mistake #2: Not Cleaning Dentures Properly
Your Mouth Isn’t Clean Just Because Your Dentures Look Clean
Let’s cut through the nonsense. Just because your dentures look clean doesn’t mean they are clean. Dentures collect bacteria, food debris, and plaque just like natural teeth do – sometimes more. If you make the mistake of not cleaning them correctly every single day, you are setting yourself up for bad breath, a stained smile, infections, and denture failure.
Here are mistakes to avoid when cleaning dentures:
- Do not place your dentures in boiling hot water
- Do not use overly abrasive cleaners such as those used to clean sinks
- Do not soak your dentures in bleach or hydrogen peroxide
- Do not use toothpaste on your dentures (it may scratch them)
- Do not use wire or hard bristle brushes on your dentures
- Do not use steel wool to scrub your dentures
- Do not stick them in the dishwasher
- Don’t skip cleaning just because you’re tired or busy
- Don’t store them in dirty water overnight
- Don’t rely on water rinses alone
- Do not eat denture cleaning tablets
The Right Way to Clean Dentures
You need to clean your dentures with a multi-step routine – one that’s backed by science, not the mistakes of your cousin’s advice or some random person online.
Step 1: Brush Daily
Use a denture-specific brush or even a soft toothbrush. Dish soap and water work great and are inexpensive. You can also use commercially available denture cleaning pastes which are much gentler on your denture than traditional toothpaste. The physical action of brushing is one of the best ways to remove gross debris and food particles from your denture. One pro tip is to place a towel in the sink to cushion the fall of your dentures if you happen to drop them while brushing.
Step 2: Soak Them
Place your dentures into a glass of warm (not hot) water with an effervescent denture cleaning tablet. Soak for 5 minutes or even overnight. Published studies have shown that denture cleaning tablets are one of the most effective ways to remove stains and kill the bad stuff on your denture such as bacteria, fungi, and biofilm. When you are done soaking your dentures, be sure to change out the water.
Step 3: Rinse Well
After soaking, rinse your dentures thoroughly with water. Those cleaning tablets work, but you don’t want that chemical cocktail in your mouth. Plus, it doesn’t taste very good!
Step 4: Clean Your Mouth Too!
While your dentures might now be clean and shiny, don’t make the mistake of neglecting your mouth. Just because you no longer have teeth, don’t think that your mouth no longer needs a little TLC.
Studies show that the tongues of denture wearers can be covered with anywhere from 100 million to 1 billion microbes per square centimeter of surface area! Using a tongue scraper or brushing your tongue with a toothbrush can remove significant amounts of plaque and reduce bacterial loads. Rinsing your mouth with antibacterial mouthwash is another great way to get rid of pesky bacteria.
You can also use a soft bristled toothbrush to gently stimulate the gums on the ridges of bone that support your dentures. Just be careful and take your time while doing this. Being careless with your toothbrush can stab gum tissues and cause painful ulcerations such as canker sores.
Step 5: Optional but Effective – Microwave Disinfection
Yeah, you read that right. Microwaving your dentures on low power (650 watts) in 1 cup (8 ounces) of water for 3 minutes, one time per week, has been shown to kill bacteria and fungi even better than soaking. Just make sure to do it the right way, or you can damage your denture. If you do this, be careful when removing the container from the microwave as it will be hot!
Bottom line: Clean your dentures every single day – no shortcuts, no excuses. A quick brush, a proper soak, and some mouth TLC will keep your dentures looking good, smelling fresh, and lasting longer. You wouldn’t put on dirty underwear every day, would you? Don’t do it with your dentures either! Click here for more information about how to properly clean your dentures
Mistake #3: Skipping Follow-Up Appointments
Missing your follow-ups? You’re asking for trouble.
When you get new dentures, your dentist isn’t just trying to milk your wallet with extra appointments. Those follow-up visits are critical, not optional. Your mouth is healing, shifting, and changing – especially if you got immediate dentures right after tooth removal. Gums swell, shrink, and settle. Bones reshape themselves. That tight brand-new denture fit you had on day one? It’s already outdated by week three and your immediate dentures may now be loose.
Why Adjustments Are Non-Negotiable
Dentures are not one size fits all. Each one is custom made to fit every different patient. The way your cheeks, tongue, and jaw muscles interact with the denture takes time to dial in. One side might rub. Another might pop loose when you talk. Maybe the bite is off. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that these issues are failures. They are expected changes, and they are normal with immediate dentures. Adjustments fine-tune denture fit and avoid painful spots, infections, or even long-term bone loss.
Studies show nearly half of denture wearers need four or more adjustments in the first year. Some studies show that up to 13 adjustments may be needed. If you’re lucky and only need two or three, count your blessings!
Hard Relines, Soft Relines, and What They Mean for You
With immediate dentures, you’ll likely start with soft relines – temporary fixes to keep things comfy as your gums heal. Once your mouth settles down (anywhere from 3 to 12 months after surgery), you will graduate to a hard reline. This is a more permanent solution that reshapes the base of your denture to match your new tissue contours.
Even then, relines aren’t one-and-done. Your gums and bone keep changing as you age and the longer you have your dentures. That solid fit you once had…it will slowly loosen even if you never had a soft reline and went with delayed style dentures. Periodic relines are just part of the ride.
Bottom Line: If your dentist says, “Come back in a few weeks,” listen to their advice. Those visits aren’t optional. They’re the difference between tolerating your dentures versus thriving with them. Think of them like tune-ups for your mouth. Don’t make the mistake of skipping these visits as you will be setting yourself up for discomfort, difficulty eating, and a denture that will likely end up in your nightstand drawer. Click here for more information about denture relines
Mistake #4: Eating the Wrong Foods Too Soon
Let’s cut to the chase – don’t make the mistake of thinking your mouth is ready for steak the day you get your new dentures. I don’t care how good your dentist is, this is a transition period. One of the biggest problems I see is that people dive back into their “normal” diet way too soon and then wonder why their gums are sore, their dentures are popping loose, or they’re chewing like a baby goat.
The truth is your chewing power with dentures is nowhere near what it was with natural teeth. Studies show it can take up to 7 times more chews to break food down with dentures, and your bite force drops to about 10–20% of what it used to be when you had natural teeth. That means your old favorite foods, like crunchy carrots, certain meats, or sticky snacks can be a disaster waiting to happen. Don’t make the mistake of rushing back to your old favorite foods. You will likely need to adapt and find new ones.
So, what should you eat? During the first few weeks, think soft and smooth: mashed potatoes, oatmeal, yogurt, etc. As you get more comfortable chewing with your dentures, you can work your way up to steamed veggies, fish, and pasta. Cut everything into small bites. Chew slowly and evenly on both sides. Skip the temptation to bite with your front teeth – dentures just aren’t built for chewing that way.
And here’s a trick from my patients: pretend you’re Pac-Mantm – chew up and down, not side to side. This helps keep your dentures stable when eating food.
Bottom line: Respect the learning curve when eating with dentures. Start slow, be smart, and give your mouth time to adapt. Make no mistake, you will get back to enjoying food – but only if you don’t sabotage yourself by rushing the process.
Mistake #5: Keeping Dentures Too Long
Many people make the mistake of thinking that their dentures will last forever. This is something that I could never figure out. Honestly, what do we buy nowadays that lasts forever? Seriously? People get a new mobile phone every few years. Cars? A recent study found that two-thirds of Americans replace their car every 5 years or sooner. When it comes to dentures, however, some people think they should last until you kick the bucket!
After 5 Years, it is Time to Move On
It is true that dentures are made of acrylic plastic which is estimated to take hundreds of years to degrade. Does this mean that your dentures will last for hundreds of years? Technically, yes. If you throw your dentures in the trash, there is a good chance some future archaeologist will dig them up intact hundreds of years from now. Does that mean those dentures are still suitable for wear? Definitely not!
When you wear dentures, you subject them to significant amounts of stress. Chewing on them daily wears down teeth surfaces to a point where there are no teeth left after a while. These worn teeth reduce chewing efficiency making it more difficult to eat, in addition to negatively affecting the stability of the denture. Furthermore, worn down teeth changes the vertical dimensions of your face making you older.
In addition to wearing teeth down to little nubs, long-term use also affects the pink plastic base of the denture. The constant bathing of your denture in saliva in addition to their daily cleaning (you should be cleaning those suckers every day! Don’t forget!), has multiple negative effects on the structural integrity. Increased microscopic porosities allow increasing amounts of bacteria and fungi to colonize nooks and crannies of the denture which can give you bad breath and make you sick. Decreased flexural strength and more brittleness increase the chance of denture breakage.
After a while, dentures also just start looking old. Your natural teeth did not stay white forever, and neither will your denture teeth. As time and wear and tear progress, denture teeth will begin to yellow and lose their translucency. The paint on your car loses its luster after a while and your denture is no different.
Finally, it is important to remember that what your jawbones look like today is not how they looked many years ago. As the shape and volume of your jawbones change with time, so will the fit of your dentures. If you think they are going to fit nice and snug just like they did when you first got them, you are mistaken. Relines can only go so far in fixing the fit of your dentures.
The American College of Prosthodontists, the leading organization of tooth replacement specialists in the United States, recommends dentures be replaced every 5 years. Those who make the mistake of keeping dentures longer than this recommended timeframe run the risk of increasing infections, bad breath, and breakage of the prosthesis.
Bottom line: Don’t make the mistake of thinking your dentures will last forever. They won’t and they are not supposed to. Dentures should be replaced every 5 years.
Mistake #6: Using Too Much Denture Adhesive
More Glue Isn’t the Answer – It’s a Warning Sign
Let’s get something straight – adhesive is good stuff and using it does not mean that your dentist made a mistake when crafting your denture. Studies consistently show that even the best made dentures will benefit from a bit of adhesive. This product helps keep dentures more stable, improves bite strength, streamlines chewing efficiency, reduces food accumulation beneath the prosthesis, and improves patient confidence.
When your dentures fit properly, you shouldn’t need more than a few small dabs of adhesive to keep things stable. Making the mistake of overusing the stuff doesn’t make them stick better – it just creates a sticky mess that oozes out the sides and builds up bacteria. And that mess? It can lead to inflammation, bad breath, and even fungal infections like denture stomatitis.
Here’s the right way to use denture adhesive:
- If using adhesive paste, start with a clean, dry denture
- Apply three to four pea-sized dabs or short strips – not a continuous strip
- If using adhesive powder, moisten the denture with water
- Sprinkle powder onto the denture and shake off the excess
- If using adhesive strips, wafers, or pads, moisten the denture with water
- Trim excess material so it does not extend beyond denture edges
- Place trimmed adhesive strip onto denture surface
- Press and hold your denture in place for a few seconds
- Bite a few times to adjust your denture into place
- Allow adhesive to set for 10–15 minutes before eating or drinking
If you are needing more and more adhesive just to keep your denture from moving, it’s time for a reline or a checkup. Don’t make the mistake of thinking the adhesive will fix a poor fit. In fact, one of the signs your denture needs attention, or replacement is exactly that – you’re finding yourself reaching for the adhesive multiple times a day.
And let’s not forget cleanup. Don’t just yank your denture out at night and toss it in a cup. That adhesive has to come off your denture and your gums. Use a soft toothbrush or gauze to clean your tissues thoroughly. Leaving adhesive on your gums overnight is asking for trouble.
Bottom line: If you treat denture adhesive like superglue, you’re going to end up frustrated, sore, and probably smelly. Use it the right way – and if it stops working, don’t add more. Get the fit checked. The denture should work for you, not the other way around. Click here for more information about denture adhesive
Mistake #7: Expecting Dentures to Feel Like Natural Teeth
They’re Not the Same – And That’s Okay
Many people mistakenly think that dentures are going to feel like natural teeth. I hate to burst your bubble, but dentures will never feel like natural teeth. Not after a week. Not after a year. Not ever.
Natural teeth are anchored into your jawbone with periodontal ligaments. They have nerves, pressure feedback, and stability that dentures simply can’t match. What do dentures have? They sit on top of your gums. No anchors. No feedback. Just plastic riding on soft tissue.
So, if you are making the mistake of waiting for that moment when your dentures start feeling like your old natural teeth – stop waiting. It’s not going to happen. That doesn’t mean something’s wrong, it just means you need to reset your expectations.
Here’s what dentures actually feel like:
- Bulkier than your natural teeth
- Slightly unstable at first – especially the lower denture
- Awkward during chewing and talking in the beginning
- Like something foreign in your mouth (because it is)
But here’s the good news: you can adapt. Your tongue learns to work around them. Your cheeks learn to stabilize them. Your brain stops hyper-focusing on every click and shift. It takes time, repetition, and patience.
What makes it harder?
Expecting dentures to behave like implants or real teeth. Comparing your chewing to before. Refusing to practice speaking or biting differently.
What makes it easier?
- Practice talking and reading aloud
- Stick with soft, manageable foods at first
- Use adhesive sparingly for added stability
- Focus on progress, not perfection
Bottom line: Dentures aren’t a “replacement” for teeth – they’re a substitute. They will never feel the same, and that’s okay. You can still eat well, smile confidently, and live your life – but only if you stop expecting them to be something they’re not. Don’t make the mistake of thinking dentures will be just like your natural teeth.
Mistake #8: Expecting Your Speech to Stay the Same
Dentures will change the way you talk. You won’t sound exactly the same, and mistakenly thinking otherwise sets you up for disappointment.
Why do dentures make you sound different when talking? You’ve got a chunk of plastic in your mouth which is taking up space where your teeth and palate used to be. That’s going to mess with how your tongue moves and how your words come out. It’s not because your dentist made a mistake, it’s just the physiology of speech production and nature of dentures.
Most people struggle with “S” sounds and tongue placement early on. Some folks lisp, whistle, or even spit when they speak. That’s normal. In fact, studies show up to 75% of denture wearers report speech issues when they first start out with a new pair.
But here’s the good news – you can absolutely improve the way you talk with dentures. Just like physical therapy helps people learn to walk again after a knee replacement, speech exercises help you retrain your mouth to work with your dentures. Read out loud. Sing in the car. Do tongue twisters like “She sells seashells” until your tongue stops tripping over itself. Record yourself and listen back. It’s awkward, sure – but it works.
If you’re still having trouble after 6 months, talk to your dentist. Sometimes adding texture to the top of your denture (called ruggae) can help. Some patients even find that a bit of adhesive helps keep the denture from sliding around mid-sentence.
Now let me be brutally honest, you may never sound exactly like you did with your natural teeth. That’s okay. It’s like getting a prosthetic leg. No matter how hard you train, it’s not going to feel or perform like the real thing. You adapt. You get better. But you don’t go back to the way things were. Thinking otherwise is a mistake.
Bottom Line: Stop expecting perfection. Start practicing. Your speech won’t fix itself, and no dentist can do it for you. Talk more, sing more, and give yourself time. Your tongue will catch on – just give it the memo. Click here for more information about learning how to speak better with dentures
Mistake #9: Storing Your Dentures Dry
Leaving your dentures out to air dry may seem harmless, but it’s a big mistake. Dentures need moisture to stay hydrated and in shape.
Dentures are made of acrylic, and acrylic changes shape if it dries out. Studies show that storing dentures dry causes dimensional changes, meaning your dentures can actually warp or shrink. Once that happens, they won’t fit right no matter how much adhesive you use. Remember this: dry denture storage is a mistake!
Storing dentures in water is the gold standard. Be sure to keep that water clean and change it daily. Would you drink a glass of water that’s been sitting on your counter for three days? Exactly. The same goes for your denture cup. Even after cleaning, your denture can still carry bacteria. If you drop it in water and don’t swap that water out every day, you’re creating a little bacterial hot tub. Gross. Mistakenly dropping your dentures into that bacteria soup is a big no-no.
There’s even research showing that soaking dentures in water has no significant negative effects, while dry storage can make them unstable. Bonus points if you store them in clean water after cleaning and rinsing them properly. Clean dentures deserve clean water.
Bottom Line: Always store your dentures in water when not in your mouth. Change the water daily. Never let your dentures dry out on the nightstand unless you want them to stop fitting like they should.