Keep Dentures Clean, Keep Infection at Bay

Did you know wearing your dentures to sleep increases your risk of acquiring pneumonia? That’s according to recent findings published in the Journal of Dental Research. The study, which involved 453 senior denture wearers in Japan, also found that the habit puts you more at risk for developing tongue or dental plaque and gum inflammation, aside from respiratory illness.

The main reason why sleeping with your dentures on may be problematic is because of the bacteria and other microorganisms that could be on the dental prosthesis. Throughout the night while you’re drawing breaths in, you could be inhaling these infectious microbes or letting them invade your mouth. That’s why it’s important to remove your dentures, clean them, and perform your prescribed oral hygiene measures, too, before you sleep.

Same goes for denture implants. Similar to conventional dentures, they have to be removed every night and cleaned daily. Cleaning your gums and the rest of your mouth should not be neglected, either.

If you notice any stains, trapped debris or dirt, and plaque formation on your dental partials, regular dentures, or implant-supported dentures, take them to your dentist to be professionally cleaned. He will use specialized tools and careful techniques to effectively clean the prosthesis without damaging it. At the same time, the dentist can check your overall oral health to comprehensively keep infections at bay.