Do you suspect that your dentures may be too tall or too short for your mouth? Here are 5 signs you should look out for. If you're experiencing any of the following problems, visit a dentist as soon as possible to repair or alter your denture before your issues worsen.

Speech

Have you noticed changes in your speech since you started wearing your dentures? If dentures are the wrong height, it can be difficult for you to position your tongue correctly when you talk. Any new dentures will require an adjustment period to get used to a slightly new way of speaking, but prolonged speech problems indicate that your denture is not fitted properly. Aside from height, incorrect denture size and looseness can also be causes of speech problems.

Cheek Biting

If your dentures are too short, you could find yourself frequently biting your cheeks. This painful problem occurs when short dentures allow your cheeks to fold into the extra space your mouth. This puts them in the way of your teeth repeatedly, and the swelling that biting causes can increase the problem further.

Chewing

When you eat, you get used to moving your teeth a specific distance apart to chew. If your new dentures are too tall, your usual biting motion could cause your teeth to smack together too forcefully. This forceful bite is also usually accompanied by a clicking sound that many people find unpleasant or embarrassing. Repeated hard biting could damage your dentures and cause pain in your mouth. 

On the flip side, short dentures can make it more difficult to chew. Your usual biting motion will not have the same mashing and grinding effect on your food, which can lead to digestive issues and a restrictive diet.

Dribbling

Dribbling can be both emotionally upsetting and physical problematic. Dentures that are too short can leave space for excess saliva to dribble from your mouth. Constant leakage can be unsightly, and it may lead to infections and skin irritation.

Pain

Pain can be an indication of many denture problems; incorrect denture height is one possible cause. For example, short dentures can lead to sore jaw muscles and joints because of the excess force required to compensation for the lack of height. Tall dentures can also lead to muscular and joint pains in the jaw; with excess height, the pain is caused by the prolonged stretching of the jaw beyond its usual width.