Dentures can make life convenient and much easier – they improve your bite and chewing efficiency, are aesthetically pleasing, and can help you speak normally once again. However, there are some things you must remember regarding living with the replacement teeth.
For starters, avoid sleeping in them!
WHY?
Down the road, sleeping with dentures on may lead to severe oral health conditions. Hence, give the gums some time to rest by removing them before heading to bed.
HEALTH IMPLICATIONS OF NOT REMOVING DENTURES BEFORE SLEEPING
The thought of removing your dentures before sleeping every night might seem inconvenient to a myriad of people. However, you must endeavor to remove them before calling it a day. You must know that when dentures aren't cared for appropriately, the gums beneath can get swamped up in oral bacteria and fungi, resulting in periodontal disease, irritation, and foul oral odor.
Moreover, if dentures aren't removed and cleaned regularly, plaque will build on your tongue and dentures. Eventually, uncomfortable conditions such as gum and thrush inflammation may transpire. Regular cleaning and maintenance of dentures can greatly help reduce the risk of severe health issues later down the road.
Furthermore, another reason to take off dentures before sleeping is that when you don't let your gums rest, it may lead to reduced salivary flow. This condition is known as denture stomatitis – when left untreated, it may result in inflamed or infected gums.
FINAL NOTE
If you wish to continue reaping the benefits of dentures, ensure that adequate care is taken. For this purpose, one of the things you can do is always to remove your dentures at night. If you aren't sure how to clean or store dentures at night, contact Dr. Robert Stover of Olympia Prosthodontics & Cosmetic Dentistry by calling at (360) 339-4944.