Living with dentures can take a while to get used to. If you’re considering dentures, you may wonder what it’s like to live with them. There’s so much to think about. How to eat with dentures, how to clean them and, of course, can you sleep with dentures?
That last one is what we’ll look at in this article.
Can You Sleep With Dentures?
Most people who are new to dentures usually forget to take them out when they sleep at night. But it’s very important NOT to sleep with your dentures.
Why Should You Not Sleep With Dentures?
Why? Because sleeping with dentures can have some serious side effects to your health.
According to a study by the Journal of Dental research, those who wear dentures in their sleep were 2.3 times more likely to be hospitalized with pneumonia. Sadly, some can even die because of this.
It may sound far-fetched to contact a lung infection just by sleeping with dentures. But according to the study, bacteria that cause pneumonia can easily move from the mouth to the lungs just through breathing.
And dentures can become a breeding ground for all sorts of different fungi and bacteria if you don’t remove them at night.
Denture Stomatitis
Some people also develop a condition called denture stomatitis when they don’t remove their dentures at night. Denture stomatitis is when redness and swelling occurs in your palate. The inflammation occurs in areas where your dentures come in contact with the roof of your mouth.
It becomes red and inflamed because it has been infected with yeast.The condition worsens when the yeast microorganisms infect the cracked corners of the mouth. By then, it becomes something known as angular cheilitis.
Other Infections From Dentures
Leaving your dentures in when you sleep makes it highly likely you’ll develop all sorts of infections. In fact, studies show that people who sleep with their dentures have higher blood levels of Interleukin 6. This is a protein that indicates the body is fighting an infection.
Rethink Sleeping With Dentures At Night
So the next time you think about leaving your dentures on at night, rethink that decision. The most important thing you can do is keep your dentures clean. Here are some ways you can prevent forgetting about leaving your dentures on:
- When you brush your teeth before bed, remove your dentures.
- Remove and rinse them after your meals, too.
- Stick to a good daily oral hygiene routine.
- You need to brush your dentures at least once a day, so you might as well brush it during nighttime, so you don’t forget to take them out.
- Brush your dentures with a soft-bristled toothbrush, or a denture brush. You can use a liquid antibacterial soap, or a denture cleanser to clean it. Toothpaste is not advisable because it is too abrasive and may ruin your dentures.
- Find a jar or a container where you can put your dentures in. Fill it with water, or a denture-cleaning solution, and store it by your nightstand, or somewhere close to your bed.
- Storing your denture container nearby means that you’ll be reminded to put it on in the morning when you wake up.
- Keep proper hygiene by using a different brush for your dentures and your teeth.
- Brush your gums, and clean your tongue as well.
- In the morning, rinse your dentures with clean water first before you put them back in your mouth.