# Loose Dentures: When Denture Adhesive Helps and When It Won’t Source: https://joondannacitydental.vercel.app/loose-dentures-denture-adhesive/ _Top image: AI-generated illustration._ Your denture used to feel snug. Now it lifts when you bite into a sandwich, clicks when you talk, or slips just enough that you find yourself holding back a laugh. The supermarket shelf is full of denture adhesives, and you’re wondering whether a tube of glue is the fix, or whether something else is going on. Here’s the short answer. The Australian Dental Association (ADA) says denture adhesive can help keep dentures in place and make them more comfortable to wear, but if dentures are too loose, adhesive may not help, and it’s best to see a dentist or dental prosthetist for advice. Joondanna Family Dental makes and adjusts dentures, including full acrylic, chrome partials and flexible dentures, so a loose fit is something the team can check. ## Summary of the Content - Adhesive can help a denture feel steadier, but it isn’t a fix for a denture that has become too loose. - The shape of your mouth changes over time, which is one common reason a once-snug denture stops fitting. - Use only a small amount of adhesive on a clean denture, and clean it off every day with warm water and liquid hand soap. - Adhesive may not work well in a dry mouth, because saliva helps hold dentures in place. - Soreness, bleeding gums, swelling or ulcers are signs to see your dentist or dental prosthetist. ## Why Do Dentures Get Loose? The ADA explains that the shape of your mouth can change over time, causing your denture to not fit or function properly. That’s why it says it’s important to see your dentist regularly for a check-up even if all of your teeth are replaced by dentures. A few other situations can make a denture feel loose too: - **New dentures.** Healthdirect says that in the first few months, your dentures might feel awkward or loose, cause irritation or soreness, or cause more saliva (spit) than normal. Most people take a few months to get used to how they feel. - **Immediate dentures.** If your denture went in on the same day your teeth were removed, healthdirect says it may need some adjustments as your gums heal. The ADA adds you may need more follow-up appointments and may need a new replacement denture made sooner. - **A dry mouth.** The ADA’s adhesive factsheet warns that saliva is very important for helping to keep dentures in place. ## What Does Denture Adhesive Actually Do? The ADA’s factsheet says denture adhesive can be used at home to help keep dentures in place. It may also be called denture glue, and it comes as a cream, paste, powder, strip or wafer from a supermarket or pharmacy. It lists two benefits: adhesive can help keep dentures in place, and it can make them more comfortable to wear. It also says the adhesive will not damage the gums or teeth. ### When adhesive is not the answer This is the part most people don’t hear. The ADA is clear that if dentures are too loose, denture adhesive may not help, and it is best to see a dentist or dental prosthetist for advice. It also warns that denture adhesives may not work well in a dry mouth. ## Adhesive or Adjustment: What Might Help? Here’s how the ADA and healthdirect describe the options: Situation What the guidance says Your denture fits but you’d like it to feel steadier The ADA says adhesive can help keep dentures in place and make them more comfortable to wear Your denture is too loose The ADA says adhesive may not help; see a dentist or dental prosthetist for advice Your mouth has changed shape over time The ADA says older dentures sometimes need more material added to the base so they fit well again, and sometimes a new denture may be needed instead Your denture is new Healthdirect says you might need follow-up appointments so your dentist or dental prosthetist can adjust your dentures You have a full denture that won’t stay put The ADA says you may have the option of dental implants put into your jaw to hold the denture in place; you can still take it out Your dentist will look at your mouth and your denture before suggesting which of these suits you. ## How to Use Denture Adhesive If your denture fits well and you’d like it to feel steadier, the ADA’s factsheet sets out three steps: 1. **Make sure the dentures are clean.** 2. **Apply the adhesive on the inside surface of the denture.** Only a small amount of adhesive is needed. Make sure to follow the instructions on the packet. 3. **Position the denture in the mouth.** Gently hold the denture in place for a few seconds. ### Cleaning the adhesive off The ADA says to clean the adhesive off every day using warm water, a spare toothbrush or denture brush, and liquid hand soap. Do not use boiling water to clean off sticky adhesive. If you’re reaching for more and more adhesive just to get through the day, take that as a sign to book a check, not to buy a bigger tube. ## Looking After Your Denture So It Lasts Good daily care keeps your denture and your gums in better shape. Here’s what the ADA and healthdirect recommend: - **Brush morning and night.** Take your denture out to clean it. Brush using a spare toothbrush or a denture cleaning brush and liquid hand soap. - **Skip the toothpaste.** The ADA says do not use toothpaste to clean your denture, because it is too rough to clean plastic. Healthdirect agrees that toothpaste can scratch the denture surfaces. - **Protect it from drops.** Clean your denture over a towel or bowl of water to protect it if you accidentally drop it. - **Soak it.** Soak your dentures in a denture cleaning solution to remove bacteria and disinfect them. The ADA says that if there is a build-up of hard deposits (tartar, calculus), dentures can be soaked overnight in a solution of white vinegar (diluted 1:4), then cleaned as usual. - **Take it out at night.** The ADA says to take your dentures out and put them in a dry, safe location while you sleep. Its care factsheet says this reduces sore spots developing and can help stop infections affecting the gums around the denture. - **Look after your mouth too.** Healthdirect says to brush your gums and tongue every day, even if you don’t have teeth. ## When Should You See Your Dentist? Healthdirect says to see your dentist or dental prosthetist if your mouth is sore, you have bleeding gums, you have swelling, or you have ulcers, because your dentures may need to be adjusted. Even when nothing hurts, regular visits matter. After you’ve got used to your dentures, healthdirect says you’ll still need to see your dentist or dental prosthetist at least yearly to check they still fit correctly. The ADA adds that your dentist will also check the soft tissues in your mouth for signs of oral cancer or conditions that can develop from wearing a denture, such as oral thrush. ### Your loose denture checklist Bring these details to your appointment: - How long your denture has felt loose, and whether it’s the top, bottom or both. - When it moves most: eating, talking, laughing or all day. - How old the denture is, and whether it was an immediate denture. - Whether you use adhesive, which kind, and how much. - Any sore spots, ulcers, bleeding or swelling. - Whether your mouth often feels dry, and a list of the medicines you take. - Your denture itself, even if you don’t usually wear it. ## How Joondanna Family Dental Can Help Joondanna Family Dental’s dentures page lists a range of options, including removable full acrylic, removable chrome-casted partials, implant-supported dentures, immediate transition, and Valplast (flexible) dentures. The clinic says it offers a personalised dental treatment plan for every patient who comes in for dentures. That means if your current denture can’t be made to fit well, the team can talk you through other options, from a new denture to an [implant-supported denture](https://joondannacitydental.vercel.app/dental-implants/implant-supported-dentures/) where it suits. If you already have a partial denture, our earlier article on [whether partial dentures damage other teeth](https://joondannacitydental.vercel.app/do-partial-dentures-damage-other-teeth/) covers caring for the teeth it holds onto. ## Booking at Joondanna Family Dental Joondanna Family Dental is at 21 Wanneroo Road, Joondanna WA 6060. It’s open Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Payment options listed on the clinic’s site include HBF, NIB and CBHS, HICAPS, Afterpay, SuperCare and Fund My Dental. Call [(08) 6109 6666](tel:0861096666) or [contact the clinic online](https://joondannacitydental.vercel.app/contact-us/). If you’re not sure what to say, try: “My denture has started feeling loose. Can I book an appointment to have the fit checked?” ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is denture adhesive bad for my gums? The ADA’s factsheet says the adhesive will not damage the gums or teeth. It does say to clean it off every day. ### Why doesn’t adhesive work for me? The ADA says adhesive may not help if dentures are too loose, and may not work well in a dry mouth. Either way, it’s worth a check-up. ### Can an old denture be made to fit again? Sometimes. The ADA says older dentures sometimes need more material added to the base so they fit well again, and sometimes a new denture may be needed instead. ## Final Thoughts Denture adhesive has a place. It can make a well-fitting denture feel steadier and more comfortable. But it can’t make up for a denture that has become too loose as your mouth changes. If you find yourself relying on it, book a check so your dentist can look at the fit, your gums and the denture itself, and explain whether an adjustment, adding material to the base or a new denture would suit you. _Written by [Dr Lucy Ge](https://joondannacitydental.vercel.app/our-dentist/dr-lucy-ge/), Founder and Principal Dentist, Joondanna Family Dental._ ## Sources Checked 30 October 2026. This article explains general published guidance and the clinic’s own published information, not advice about your mouth or denture. - Australian Dental Association: [Dentures](https://teeth.org.au/dentures), [Denture adhesive factsheet](https://teeth.org.au/download-file?file=/media/ovnj1cac/ada2022-factsheet-denture-adhesive.pdf) and [Caring for your dentures factsheet](https://teeth.org.au/download-file?file=/media/s4mpwny5/ada2022-factsheet-caring-for-your-dentures.pdf). - Healthdirect: [Dentures](https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/procedures/dental-procedures-and-appliances/dentures) (last reviewed February 2025). - Joondanna Family Dental: [Dentures](https://joondannacitydental.vercel.app/restorative-dentistry/dentures/), [Implant-supported dentures](https://joondannacitydental.vercel.app/dental-implants/implant-supported-dentures/), [Payment options](https://joondannacitydental.vercel.app/payment-options/), [Dr Lucy Ge](https://joondannacitydental.vercel.app/our-dentist/dr-lucy-ge/) and [Contact us](https://joondannacitydental.vercel.app/contact-us/). - Photos in this article are AI-generated illustrations, not photos of Joondanna Family Dental, its staff or patients.