What to Use to Hold Bottom Dentures in Place

Dentures work as replacement teeth when a person has lost a substantial amount of teeth due to either gum disease or tooth decay. Both upper and lower dentures can be made of acrylic or metal. While upper dentures are generally held on by suction, similar to the force of a plunger, lower dentures can give those who wear them a bit of trouble. However, there are products that can assist with the fit of lower dentures.

Lower Denture Fit

• Lower dentures are meant to stay in place through a combination of the muscles of your mouth and gravity. As gravity holds the lower denture down, your tongue and cheek muscles assist by holding the lower denture in place. While this is the intended process for lower dentures, elderly people often have difficulty holding their lower denture in place due to deteriorated or weaker muscles and gum ridge. When a lower denture will not stay put, it is necessary to use alternative methods to hold it in place.

Denture Adhesive Glue

• Denture adhesive glue or paste can assist in getting a better fit with a lower denture. Denture glue comes in a tube and is squeezed into the portion of the lower denture that connects with the gum ridge. Denture glue is the most commonly used type of adhesive to combat an ill-fitting lower denture. Denture adhesive glue is an over-the-counter product that is available in a variety of brands, strengths and flavors.

Denture Adhesive Powder

• Adhesive powder is another form of denture glue. Powder is applied by placing a small amount on the tissue area of the entire lower denture. After the powder is placed onto the denture, push the denture onto the lower gum ridge. Once the powder comes into contact with saliva, it forms a glue, which then holds the lower denture in place. A benefit of using adhesive powders is that they can be easier to remove from your gum ridge than adhesive glue. Adhesive powder is also an over-the-counter method.

Denture Adhesive Liners

• Denture adhesive liners are wafer-thin glue liners that are places inside the lower denture. A key benefit to using liners is that you can cut each liner to perfectly fit the shape of the lower denture. If you are considering using adhesive liners, a pre-requisite is that your lower denture must fit well to ensure the liner will match up with your gum ridge. Adhesive liners are typically simple to remove and do not stick to your gums.