If you wear dentures, you have heard all of the rules. You know how to best care for your dentures. The question is, are you doing those things? Are you doing all that you can to care for your teeth, or are you causing yourself more trouble? We find that patients begin their denture experience by doing everything the right way, but one thing leads to another and all of a sudden, a patient is sleeping in dentures and wondering why everything is going downhill. Let’s take a closer look at what is happening when you sleep in your dentures.
The Risk to Your Dentures
Your dentures can fail. Over time, bacteria builds up inside of your dentures causing them to weaken and come apart. Sleeping in your dentures will fast-track this process by allowing bacteria more time to work. You will also notice extra plaque buildup on your tongue which can cause bad breath.
Gum Inflammation
Your gums are essential for wearing dentures. You need to take great care of them by giving them a break each night. Patients who sleep in their dentures often have swollen and painful gums. Some even experience sores on their gums from the constant pressure of carrying dentures. A break each night and a brushing each morning will help your gums feel great and healthy!
Pneumonia Risk
While you are sleeping, your mouth builds up moisture and your body naturally swallows that fluid without a thought. This is a lot more difficult to do when you are wearing dentures. Instead of swallowing that excess fluid, you might actually pull it into your lungs, which will put you at risk for pneumonia and other breathing difficulties.
Want to prevent all of this? You definitely should! There’s no reason to put your health at risk when you can simply remove your dentures and experience a much healthier mouth. If you aren’t sure how to change your denture routine, give us a call! We would love to help you see where you can improve your denture care!