A recent study published in the Journal of Dental Research suggested that wearing dentures during sleep doubles the risk of pneumonia in the very elderly1.
The study investigated 524 randomly selected seniors of average age 87.8 years were examined for oral health status and oral hygiene behaviours, as well as medical assessment including blood chemistry analysis, and followed up annually for three years.
Among 453 denture wearers, 186 (40.8%) who wore their dentures during sleep, doubled their risk for pneumonia compared to those who removed their dentures at night.
In addition, those who wore dentures at night were more likely to have tongue and denture plaque, gum inflammation and positive culture for Candida albicans (a fungal infection).
This study highlights the importance of correct denture care. At VC Dental we recommend:
- Remove dentures after eating, and run under water to remove loose food particles and debris.
- Clean your dentures at least daily by brushing them using a denture brush or soft toothbrush to remove plaque and food deposits. Use a specialist denture cleaner or mild soap – toothpaste can be abrasive and scratch the denture surface allowing plaque to more easily stick.
- Soak your dentures overnight – the importance of this is highlighted by the recent study. The plastic in the denture needs to remain moist to help keep its shape. You can place the dentures in water or a denture soaking solution overnight. Don’t soak dentures that contain metal in solutions that contain chlorine, because it can tarnish the metal. Also, solutions containing bleaching agents can whiten the pink plastic. Remember to rinse dentures thoroughly after soaking to remove any residual cleaning agent.
- Maintain regular check-ups with your dentist so we can keep a check on the fit of the denture and health of your remaining teeth and gums.
References
1. Journal of Dental Research: Denture Wearing during Sleep Doubles the Risk of Pneumonia in the Very Elderly, Linuma T, Arai Y, Abe Y et al. (October 7 2014)
