Your dentures are an excellent way to restore your smile so you can eat a nutritious diet, smile confidently, and speak clearly. Between their natural appearance and comfortable fit, it’s no wonder you’d never want to take them out! But the truth is, it’s important that you remove your restorations nightly to keep your mouth healthy and strong. Here’s what could happen if you don’t- and what you should do with your prosthetics while you sleep.
Why Do I Need to Remove My Dentures Before Bed?
On your first day with your new dentures, your dentist might have told you to wear your new restorations for 24 straight hours to help them mold to the shape of your mouth and get your jaws used to wearing them. However, after the first day, you should begin removing your restorations every night before you go to bed. Although they may look and feel great late at night, leaving them in your mouth 24/7 can increase your risk of the following:
- Bacteria Growth: When you don’t take out your dentures to clean them, they can accumulate plaque and bacteria while you sleep, increasing your risk of illness and gum disease.
- Bone Loss: Jawbone deterioration can start affecting your jaw within six months of permanent tooth loss and can eventually cause even more tooth loss. The good news is that your new dentures can help prevent further bone deterioration, but overuse can have the opposite effect. Thus, be sure to give your smile a rest by taking them out before you head to bed.
- Excess Wear: Your durable, lifelike dentures were designed to survive normal wear and tear from eating and speaking for five to seven years, but if you don’t remove them at night, this time can be cut dramatically shorter. Worse still, if you’re a tooth-grinder while you sleep, you could accidentally damage them or even cause them to break or chip, which is a dangerous choking hazard!
- Stomatitis: This painful oral yeast infection is a common occurrence among those who don’t give their mouth regular breaks from their dentures. Typically, patients experience redness in the oral tissues below where the dentures sit, or painful red bumps along the roof of the mouth.
- Increased Buildup: Buildup on your restorations can make them smell, look, and feel gross, and can be very difficult to remove on your own. Taking them out overnight can reduce the occurrence of this biofilm, so they stay fresh and clean a lot longer!
How to Properly Store Dentures
As you can see, keeping your dentures in your mouth overnight can cause a lot more harm than good. So, what should you be doing instead? Here are some best practices:
- Remove your dentures completely after each meal. Brush them with a soft-bristled brush and mild hand soap, floss them, and rinse them well before returning them to your mouth.
- Rinse dentures as needed throughout the day if you cannot get to a toothbrush and floss immediately.
- Each night before you go to bed, be sure to brush and floss your dentures, rinse them well, and then fully submerge them in either a glass of water or denture soak. This will help keep them hydrated so they don’t dry out and lose their shape while you’re sleeping.
- Be sure to clean your mouth too; using a different brush than the one you clean your dentures with, gently brush your gums and any remaining teeth, and then rinse well.
Remember, while your new dentures may look so good you don’t ever want to remove them, the truth is by not doing so, you’ll wear them out faster, and put your own oral health at risk, too. Thus, don’t skip this important step and be sure to take your teeth out before you head to sleep each night!
About Dr. Vason
Dr. Carlisle Vason earned his undergraduate degrees in finance and international affairs at the University of Georgia before pursuing his dental degree at the Dental College of Georgia. He then underwent an Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) residency at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center in Augusta and has since completed the Essentials Curriculum at the Pankey Institute and attended courses through the Kois Center in Seattle. He is also a proud, active member of the American Dental Association, the Georgia Dental Association, and the Hinman Dental Society. To schedule an appointment for dentures, visit our website or call 404-367-9799.