You’ll likely want to use dentures often when you first get them. After all, doing so will keep your smile full and beautiful! Still, you shouldn’t wear these prosthetic teeth constantly. It’s actually risky to keep them in your mouth for too long. That being said, you may wonder: “Just how long can I wear dentures?” Well, never fear – your local Los Angeles dentist has the answer. Here, then, is how long you can wear dentures daily and the risks of overusing them.
How Long Can You Wear Dentures?
In reality, dentures aren’t meant for 24/7 use. You should only wear them during the day and into the evening. From there, it’s best to remove the appliance before bed and store it in a denture cleansing solution.
You see, your mouth needs about six to eight hours of daily rest from dentures. This period allows its tissues to recover for the day of use ahead. Furthermore, a few hours of soaking means the dentures are clean when you next wear them.
What are the Risks of Constant Denture Use?
If you try to wear dentures constantly, you’ll put your health at serious risk. In particular, you’re likely to face the following issues:
Unhealthy Mouth Tissues
When continually covered by dentures, soft mouth tissues become unhealthy. For example, they’ll be susceptible to bacterial growth – a problem that causes disease and bad breath. Similarly, they could develop denture stomatitis. This latter condition causes red, swollen gums and a painful burning sensation.
Respiratory Problems
Of course, the risks aren’t just mouth-related; constant denture use can also result in respiratory problems.
If you wear dentures while sleeping, you’ll expose your mouth and throat to its bacteria. You’d then raise your odds of catching colds, respiratory infections, and pneumonia. That last illness is especially threatening, as this pneumonia can be deadlier if you don’t remove dentures before bed.
Accelerated Bone Loss
If you don’t know, dentures pressure the gum tissue and bony ridges that support them. Such force can be managed when your mouth gets to rest, but things change if it doesn’t.
Unfortunately, constant denture pressure accelerates bone resorption. This latter process leads to a strong decrease in bone quantity and density. Left unchecked, it’ll eventually cause your dentures to lose support and not fit correctly.
As you can see, “How long can I wear dentures?” is an important question with a crucial answer. Make sure to remove the appliance at night, then, to avoid the risks above.
About the Practice
Rancho Park Dental Group is based in Los Angeles, CA. Led by Drs. Nicole Sassounian and Albert Silvera, our practice offers customized dentistry that suits your needs. More specifically, we perform preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, as well as emergency dental care. Naturally, then, you can count on us for high-quality dentures and other restorations. For more information or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (310)-575-0886.