Regardless of how many natural teeth went missing, your dentist can provide full or partial dentures to close the gaps in your grin. With your restoration in place, you can eat and speak more easily and smile confidently.
However, if you’re absent-minded or feel drained and ready to drop into bed after a long day, you might neglect to remove them before falling asleep at night. While this might be acceptable on occasion, it’s usually not recommended. Continue reading to learn 3 reasons to soak them while you snooze instead!
Reason #1: Enjoy a Well-Earned Rest
Your prosthetics form a tight suction against the connective tissues over the bony ridges in your mouth to remain in place all day. Although necessary, this can reduce the circulation to your gums, leaving your body less able to deliver essential nutrients and infection-fighting cells. This, in turn, increases the likelihood of developing periodontal problems that will only progressively worsen the longer they go unaddressed.
Taking your dentures out of your mouth overnight gives your connective tissues a much-needed break to rest and recover. Not only does this prevent gum disease, but it also helps avoid blisters and sores that can develop when your teeth are new.
Reason #2: Maintain Their Shape and Fit
Most dentures have a base made from gum-colored acrylic that can be molded and customized to look and feel more comfortable and realistic than ever before. However, the material can crack or warp if it’s left out to dry, such as when you remove them and leave them on the bathroom counter until the next day when you wake up.
Placing them into a glass of water or special soaking solution helps retain their shape so that you don’t have to worry that your teeth will fit correctly the next day.
Reason #3: Kill Unwanted Germs
Did you know that saliva is your mouth’s natural defense against oral issues? It has a nearly neutral pH balance to counter potential acid damage to enamel, and also rinses away bacteria, leftover food, and other debris to prevent gum disease and chronic bad breath. Your dentures can’t develop decay, but if plaque grows on their surfaces, you could develop periodontal problems.
Unfortunately, your mouth naturally produces less moisture at night, increasing the risk of developing harmful residue on your restoration. Leaving your teeth to soak can kill up to 99% of harmful microbes, so they’re fresh and clean when you insert them the following morning.
Taking steps to care for your dentures correctly, like leaving them to soak at night, preserves their condition so you can continue to make the most of their many benefits!
About the Practice
Patients at Dr. Euksuzian & Dr. Braatz Family and Cosmetic Dentistry benefit from a team of dentists eager to help them build and maintain happy, healthy smiles. Whether you need basic preventive care or more complex services, like replacing missing teeth, they are happy to help! They welcome patients of all ages and utilize state-of-the-art equipment to tailor treatment plans to meet your unique needs. If you are interested in dentures, you can request an appointment on the website or call (609) 245-5184.
