Today’s dentures are made from modern materials, so they’re often quite comfy. You could easily want to wear them all the time as a result. That said, you should remove these prosthetics when you sleep at night; wearing dentures 24/7 isn’t okay for you or your mouth. Constant use would put your oral health at risk and ruin your treatment results. For more details, here’s a primer on the many downsides of always wearing dentures.
Wearing Dentures 24/7 Isn’t Okay
While your dentures may look great and fit well, wearing them 24/7 is a bad idea. Doing so can cause health conditions like:
Respiratory Issues
You likely won’t “breathe easy” if you wear dentures constantly. After all, using them excessively can lead to respiratory issues.
Constant denture use exposes your throat to bacteria. Left unchecked, such microbes result in common colds, respiratory infections, and similar problems. Research even shows that wearing dentures without rest can double your risk of deadly pneumonia.
Denture Stomatitis
Your mouth won’t benefit from wearing dentures overnight. In many cases, this practice triggers a nasty disease called denture stomatitis.
“Denture stomatitis” refers to when areas covered by dentures become sore and inflamed. It occurs when a unique yeast builds up in your mouth, resulting in canker sores, pain when swallowing, etc. That kind of buildup is common among patients who wear dentures constantly. As such, it’s unwise to wear your prosthetics to bed.
Accelerated Bone Loss
The 24/7 use of your dentures also poses a threat to your jaw. Over time, it can accelerate your jawbone’s loss of density.
If you didn’t already know, tooth loss causes your jaw to lose tissue. (The jawbone needs stimulus from chewing to maintain itself.) The pressure from constant denture use speeds up that process, further reducing the quantity and density of nearby bone tissue. It can thus cause a poor fit and deprive your restorations of the support they need to work.
What Should You Do Instead?
Rather than wear dentures all the time, only use them during daylight hours. This approach allows your gums time to rest and maintains your mouth’s health.
More specifically, you should remove your dentures before you sleep at night. You could even store them in a glass of cleaning solution while you snooze. Said mixture would clean your restorations overnight, ensuring they’re ready for you in the morning.
Wearing dentures 24/7 may be tempting, but it’s something you shouldn’t try. Remember to remove them to avoid the dental issues mentioned above.
About the Practice
Rockville Family Dentistry is based in Rockville, MD. Led by Dr. Modarres, our practice offers award-winning dental care that’s sure to help your smile thrive. Whether your grin needs preventive, cosmetic, or even restorative work, we’ll deliver truly excellent results. Our team can even handle your dental emergencies on short notice! For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (301)-816-9400.