Dentures become a seamless part of your everyday life. You rely on them constantly throughout the day to chew, speak, laugh, and smile – all things that maintain your quality of life, which is an important element to overall happiness.
But what happens if you wear your dentures at night? Is it safe to do so?
While Possible to Wear Dentures at Night, It's Not Recommended
One reason this question comes up is that some people who suffer from sleep apnea feel that their condition is improved while wearing dentures at night.
It’s also possible that wearing dentures may make it easier to use a sleep apnea oral device, and there are indeed oral devices designed to work along with dentures to keep the airway more open at night.
However, most experts would say that while it’s possible to wear dentures at night, it’s not recommended. Your dentures, while sturdy, do need regular, proper care, just like natural teeth do, and your gums and bone need a chance to relax from the pressure of the denture that’s been present during the day.
Keeping your dentures in at night can cause various kinds of common oral health issues such as sore gums, gum disease, plaque buildup, and bad breath. But you may not know that wearing your dentures overnight can also result in some serious health risks!
Here's a quick list of some of these more serious risks:
- Bone Loss
The constant pressure that dentures exert on your gums throughout the day is normal. But the bone and tissue in your mouth also need time to rest. If you wear dentures constantly, the pressure on bone and tissue can become too great and eventually cause a loss of bone.
- Loosening of the Dentures
Constant use and wear and tear on your dentures can cause them to become loose. Loose dentures can increase the risk of slippage, and may eventually limit what types of food you can eat.
- Bacteria and Fungi Growth
Dentures that aren’t removed and cleaned on a regular basis can lead to the growth of fungi and bacteria between where your dentures and gums meet. This can cause odors, irritation, and infection.
- Increased Risk of Pneumonia
This problem stems from increased bacteria and fungi growth. Pneumonia risk may increase under these conditions, especially for elderly people, as any bacteria or fungi present can be breathed into the lungs.
- Denture Stomatitis and Angular Cheilitis
These are inflammatory conditions caused by a yeast infection that occurs under the dentures or at the corners of the mouth. These conditions can cause soreness, itchy burning, blisters, and bleeding.
Longevity of Your Dentures
Taking care of your dentures at night is important for both your oral health and the longevity of your dentures.
Dentures are really meant to be removed and cleaned daily and are not designed to be worn overnight, so it’s recommended that you avoid wearing your dentures while sleeping, and remove and clean them daily.
If you find that you need to keep your dentures in at night (for social reasons, for example), you should, at the very least, clean your mouth and dentures thoroughly.
This Will Help Remove Plaque
At the end of each day, brush your dentures with a soft-bristled toothbrush and mild denture-cleaning solution or soap. This will help remove plaque, food particles, and denture adhesive from the surface of your dentures.
Then, soak your dentures in a bowl of water (never use hot water!) or a denture-soaking solution overnight to keep the dentures moist and prevent them from losing their shape or becoming brittle. In the morning, rinse your dentures before wearing them.
Maintaining Dentures is not only Crucial,
but it's also Easy!
Always make sure to remove or handle your dentures over a soft cloth or towel, just in case they are dropped. Dentures are less likely to break when landing on a soft surface vs. the hard surface of a sink.
If your dentures are broken, you should call us as soon as possible for repair.
Maintaining your dentures is not only crucial, but it’s also easy! You should do your best to always remove dentures at night and keep them clean. You’ll thank yourself later.
At Changing Smiles, we offer free consultations for anyone considering dental implants.
We’ll perform an oral exam to make sure you’re a candidate for implants and give you a detailed treatment plan. If you’re interested, then don’t hesitate to contact us today to schedule your appointment.