Why Do I Need to Remove My Dentures at Night?

by | Dec 13, 2016

At Danville Family Dentistry, many Hendricks County residents ask us if they really need to take out their dentures every night. The answer is “Yes.” Sleeping in your dentures can cause you to develop oral health problems. Therefore, it’s best to take your dentures out and properly care for them.

The Risks of Wearing Your Dentures to Bed

Here are some things that may occur if you wear your dentures to bed:

  • Your dentures can cause pressure on the soft tissue of your palate (the roof of your mouth). This pressure can cause you to develop painful sore spots. Or, prolonged pressure can cause you to get ulcers on your gums, inside cheeks or inside your lips.
  • If you wear your upper dentures continually, you can develop denture stomatitis. Yeast can build up under your dentures, causing your palate to become red and inflamed. If the yeast isn’t controlled, you can develop a bad infection.
  • Continual pressure on your palate and lower jaw can cause resorption and bone loss. Resorption is a process in which you gradually lose bone volume and density. Bone loss and resorption can cause your dentures to become loose and fall out more easily. Plus, it can cause changes in your facial appearance since there’s less bone support for your cheeks and lips.
  • Studies have shown that people who wear their dentures to bed – and this includes Hendricks County residents – can increase their risk of developing pneumonia, which can lead to hospitalization and even death.

The Benefits of Denture Removal at Bedtime

Now that you know the risks of wearing your dentures to bed, here are some of the benefits of removing them every night.

  • All the bad stuff up above is less likely to happen.
  • You reduce the added pressure on your tissues and jaw bones, allowing them to rest and heal. Your tissues can stay moist when saliva can bathe them.
  • Oxygen can get to your gums, so you’re less likely to get a yeast infection.

As you can see, removing your dentures at bedtime really is something you need to do. Additionally, it’s equally important that you take good care of your dentures by keeping them moist and clean – and by handling them properly. Check out this blog post – Dos and Don’ts of Proper Denture Care – for more tips on how you can take care of your dentures.
If you experience any problems with your dentures, schedule an appointment at Danville Family Dentistry to come into our Hendricks County office to have your dentures and your oral health checked out by Dr. Jon Erickson. We want you to have a good-looking smile and a healthy mouth.