How Long Can You Wear Dentures?

Unlike traditional dentures that are rigid with an artificial look and feel, modern dentures are made with more flexible, natural-looking materials like porcelain. These materials can be held in place perfectly with dental implants and are easy to clean and maintain.

However, you shouldn’t wear your dentures around the clock. While they may feel and look more natural, wearing dentures for too long can harm your health. Dentures should be taken out frequently, especially at night, and cleaned daily.

What Happens If You Wear Dentures All The Time?

Leaving dentures in the mouth for too long can be detrimental to your oral health. They can cause a variety of issues, including:

• Bone Loss

Dentures themselves are associated with the risk of bone loss. So wearing them constantly can only increase this risk. Plus, chewing on your natural teeth facilitates the development of new bone cells to replace aging ones. Bone growth is not something that can be achieved with dentures, and this makes bone loss a possibility.

Another way dentures contribute to bone loss is through the pressure it exerts on the bony gums that support the dentures. A lot of pressure can speed up the process of bone loss. Wearing dentures for too long can deprive the gums of rest, further accelerating or worsening bone loss.

• Bacteria Growth

Wearing your dentures all the time can lead to bacteria buildup around the dentures. The bacteria buildup can cause bad breath and even lead to gum disease. Taking the dentures out regularly can help avoid these issues and allow your soft tissues to relax.

Wearing Dentures

Once you get your dentures, Dr. Paul Effinger may recommend wearing them most often, even when asleep. However, this should only apply to the first few days of getting the dentures.

When your mouth gets used to wearing dentures, you’re encouraged to remove them during the night. That way, your gums will get a break from bacteria buildup, and your mouth and teeth will remain healthy. It’s recommended that your dentures get at least 8 hours of rest every day.

How to Care for Your Dentures

• Soak your dentures in liquid to keep them moist all the time and avoid cracking.
• Brush the dentures daily to keep them clean.
• Reduce colds and other conditions to reduce your risk of denture stomatitis.
• Since dentures can get slippery when cleaning them, be sure to handle them carefully using a soft hand towel.
• Visit your Colorado Springs dentist regularly to get your dentures adjusted or repaired.

Schedule an Appointment with the Dentists at Alliance Family Dentistry

At Alliance Family Dentistry, we are passionate about your oral health. We can work with you to ensure you get the most out of your dentures. Contact us online or call (719) 955-4023 to book an appointment with Dr. Paul Effinger and get the help you need.