Modern dentures are one of the go-to solutions for tooth loss, and they’re so indistinguishable from real teeth and comfortable to wear that patients are often tempted to leave them in all day long! However, failing to remove your dentures daily can have catastrophic consequences for your oral health. Read on to learn about how long dentures can be worn every day and the risks of leaving them in continuously.
Why Is It Bad to Wear My Dentures for Too Long?
While your dentures might seem comfortable enough to leave in while you sleep, the consequences of doing so are simply gross. Imagine a sweaty sock in a pile of dirty laundry. It has been sheltered from the light under a screen of shirts, pants, and shorts since you wore it. When you get around to washing this sock, you might notice that it smells pretty bad. This is because bacteria love to multiply in warm, dark, moist environments like your sweaty sock in a pile of soiled clothes.
The same thing happens in the space between your denture and your gums. This area is dark, damp, warm, protected, and a perfect shelter for bacteria. Needless to say, this means that they’ll multiply if the dentures are left inside the mouth too long. Some specific issues include:
Denture stomatitis
Denture stomatitis is inflammation of the gums and their underlying tissues resulting from the accumulation of yeast and bacteria caused by wearing dentures for too long. The tissues become swollen and fiery red and may experience a painful burning sensation that makes them difficult to wear. If this inflammation goes untreated, it can suppress the immune system, leaving the patient more vulnerable to infectious disease. These accumulated microbes also make your breath smell horrible.
Respiratory infections
The mouth serves as an opening to the airway, creating a direct pathway for oral infections to spread to the respiratory tissues. Providing bacteria with a prime breeding ground by never removing your dentures can increase the risk of lung infections. Constant denture wear makes someone twice as likely to develop potentially fatal pneumonia when compared to a person who routinely removes them before bed.
Bone loss
After a long day of wearing dentures, the mouth needs time to relax and air itself out. The jaw atrophies over the course of long-term tooth loss, and the constant stress of continuous denture wear accelerates the deterioration of its bone tissue. This can lead to the mouth sinking into the face and the dentures no longer fitting properly.
How Long Can I Wear My Dentures?
After the initial acclimation period, your mouth and your dentures need six to eight hours of rest every day, so it’s strongly recommended that patients remove them before going to bed. This allows for the dentures to be thoroughly cleaned before being soaked overnight in a dentist-approved cleanser and for the mouth to rest and clean itself.
Even though leaving them in for a week straight might seem tempting at first, keeping your mouth and your dentures in good shape has far more favorable results than blowing off your basic hygiene. Removing and cleaning your appliance every night can keep your smile in great condition for years.
About the Practice
Salmon Brook Dental provides personalized treatment that exceeds all expectations in Granby, CT. Led by Drs. Kenneth Endres and Gunveen Chawla, the dedicated staff delivers the best of traditional customer service with modern techniques and technology. The practice offers general, pediatric, cosmetic, restorative, and emergency dentistry as well as denture treatments. For more information about proper denture care, contact the office online or dial (860) 653-4551.