ADVICE ON SLEEPING WITH DENTURES
Your new dentures (also known as false teeth) can boost your self-confidence, so much so that you may want to keep them in overnight, although it isn’t recommended. Here is some useful information on why it's best not to be sleeping with your dentures in and wear them 24 hours a day.
Give your gums a rest
It’s important that you adapt to the shape or fit of your dentures, but you should also give your gums a rest. For the first week, you should wear your dentures at all times, apart from when you are sleeping or when they need cleaning after eating.
Your dentures may feel comfortable but there is no better time for resting your mouth than when you are asleep.
Maintain your dentures
Leaving your dentures in overnight regularly can lead to a build-up of bacteria, and may result in bad breath or at worst, infection.
To keep your dentures looking and feeling fresh, you should incorporate a daily cleaning routine. This way, you'll be able to remove bacteria or plaque on them to help you feel confident in social situations. Soaking your dentures in a cleanser tablet solution such as those offered in the Polident range will give your dentures a deep clean, and help remove debris you may not be able to reach with a toothbrush. By following the directions on the pack, you’ll be left with a cleaner, fresher and brighter denture.
You should ensure the water you use for your cleaning solution is warm, not hot – as this may damage the denture surface – and check the water level fully covers your dentures, so they don't dry out.
You should then thoroughly rinse your denture with running water, before placing back in the mouth.
To ensure your dentures don’t get damaged when you’re not wearing them, store them in water and in a safe and secure place.
By taking your dentures out at night and adopting a daily cleansing routine, you'll be able to keep your dentures looking clean and feeling fresh . The saliva in your mouth also creates a natural safeguard for your gums from any potential bacteria, and helps guard your gums against bacteria.
