The Importance of Removing Your Denture Out at Night

Dentures have come a long way. Today, they’re more comfortable, more secure, and more lifelike. But one thing hasn’t changed: Dentures still require regular care and cleaning. And one of the best things you can do for both your dentures and your health is to take them out at night when you go to bed.

 

Modern dentures are often so comfortable to wear, it’s easy to forget you have them in your mouth. But setting a daily habit of taking them out when you turn in for the night will help you avoid a few potential problems.

 

Denturists advocate the removal of standard dentures during the night. Their recommendations are designed to protect your oral health. They also seem to extend the life of your removable dentures in healthy conditions.

 

The daily withdrawal time recommended by denturologists varies between 6 and 8 hours. The gums and mouth can rest and stay healthy. Also, this period allows you to ensure the hygiene of your dentures. It is possible to clean and soak them to remove stains and bacteria during your sleep period.

For one, wearing dentures 24/7 can increase your risk for both oral and general diseases. Constant denture wear can cause greater accumulations of dental plaque, a thin biofilm responsible for gum disease and inflammation. The increase in bacteria could also make you more susceptible to pneumonia and other diseases.

 

Problems with tissues and bones

 

Wearing your dentures non-stop can also worsen bone loss, a common problem associated with dentures. Normally, the biting forces generated when we chew stimulate bone growth in the jaw. A person loses much of this stimulation when they lose teeth, resulting in gradual bone loss.

 

Dentures can’t replace this lost stimulation, and the pressure they exert on the jaw’s bony ridges they rest upon can accelerate the process of bone loss. In time, any bone loss could affect the denture’s fit as the bone beneath them gradually shrinks. By taking them out at night, you can help slow the pace of bone loss.

 

Poor oral hygiene

 

During the night, we swallow less often. Saliva that seeps under the dentures remains trapped. The bacteria accumulate under the prostheses. Food debris can also be collected there. 

 

The constant wearing of the removable dental prosthesis can cause inflammation of the gums and tartar on the prostheses. The tartar is then impossible to remove, becomes hard and apparent. In such a case, consultation with a denturologist is necessary to remove this tartar. 

 

Denturists recommend that you remove your removable denture at night, as this allows your gums to stay healthy. Also, you benefit from better oral hygiene, and your prostheses remain in better condition. 

 

In addition to giving them and your mouth a rest at night, be sure you’re also keeping your dentures clean: Take them out and rinse them off after meals and brush them with a small amount of antibacterial soap (not toothpaste) at least once a day. And don’t forget to brush your gums and tongue every day with a soft toothbrush (different from your denture brush) to further reduce dental plaque.