How Long Can You Wear Your Dentures in a Day?

Whether you need to replace several teeth or an entire arch, dentures are a wonderful option for restoring your pearly whites. They can return the confidence that comes with a complete and natural-looking smile. Additionally, they give you back the functioning that comes with having a full set of teeth, such as bite power. You can also count on your prosthetic to last up to 10 years or more. However, despite all these benefits, it’s essential to give your mouth a daily break from your dentures. Read on to learn about the optimal time for wearing them in a 24-hour period.

Take Daily Breaks from Your Dentures

Since dentures give you all the benefits of having a complete smile, it can be tempting to keep them in all the time. However, it’s important to take them out of your mouth on a regular basis. If you don’t, it can lead to several issues, such as:

• Inflammation: The moist, dark space between your dentures and your gums is an ideal place for harmful bacteria to grow. This can potentially lead to denture stomatitis, which is a painful inflammation in the areas covered by your prosthetic.
• Breathing Issues: If your dentures aren’t taken out regularly to be cleaned, it increases the chances of an overgrowth of bacteria on them. By breathing in these harmful microbes, you are likely to suffer from pneumonia.
• Jawbone Deterioration: If your mouth is consistently exposed to the pressures of dentures, it can accelerate the process of bone loss. As time goes on, this can cause your prosthetic to not fit properly anymore.

So, What is the Recommended Daily Wear Time for Dentures?

In general, it is recommended to take your dentures out for at least 6 to 8 hours on a daily basis. That means you should not be wearing your prosthetic for more than 16 to 18 hours in a single 24-hour period. For most people, the best time to take them out is at night. As your body is resting and restoring while you sleep, so will your gums!

Taking Care of Your Dentures After You Remove Them

When you give your mouth a break from your dentures, it’s time to clean them thoroughly to remove plaque, food particles, and other substances. As you store them in a safe place for the night, place them in a mild denture-soaking solution to keep them from drying out and losing their shape.

Getting a complete smile with dentures can be life-changing, but it is important to give your mouth a break from them for a certain amount of time. By doing so, you will not only keep your prosthetic in top condition but your smile as well!

About the Author

Dr. David S. Rosenfeld keeps the smiles of Edison whole and healthy! He graduated from the Columbia University School of Dental and Oral Surgery in New York City and has completed advanced training in various fields of dentistry. By providing comprehensive dental care with the use of advanced technology, he can help restore your smile through full, partial, or implant dentures.  To schedule an appointment, contact him through his website or by calling (908) 668-7838. You can also text (908) 402-0949.