How Many Hours Should You Wear Your Dentures?

How Many Hours Should You Wear Your Dentures?

Dec 01, 2022

Losing your natural tooth can be devastating. It’s even worse if you’ve lost several or all of your natural teeth. Tooth gaps can make you feel unattractive and cause speech issues. Similarly, it can cause teeth misalignments and jawbone deterioration, leading to further complications.

Dentures are an effective and cost-effective solution for dental patients who have lost multiple or all of their natural teeth. Keep reading to learn more about dentures and how long you can wear them daily.

What are Dentures?

A denture is a removable dental prosthesis consisting of artificial teeth and gums. They are worn over your natural teeth, gums, and jawbone, closing teeth gaps. It gives you a complete set of teeth, improving your bite and speech functions and restoring your beautiful smile.

There are two main types of dentures: complete and partial dentures. Complete dentures are ideal if you’ve lost all your real teeth on either or both jaws. They replace all your teeth. A partial denture replaces a few missing teeth consecutive to each other.

Dentures look and feel like real teeth. They are custom-made to fit snugly in your mouth and blend naturally with your remaining teeth and smile. You can wear and remove them as needed. Visit our dental office for complete and partial dentures in Andover, MA.

How Long Will You Have to Wear Dentures?

Generally, you should wear dentures for as long as possible to improve your smile and bite function. For instance, you can wear them daily at work or school. It will allow you to speak, eat, and laugh naturally without difficulty or feeling embarrassed.

However, you shouldn’t wear dentures for more than 24 hours. Removing your dentures is equally important. Taking dentures off for a few hours allows your gums and jawbone to rest. Since dentures fit snugly over the mouth, wearing them too long can irritate the gums, causing pain and sores. Removing dentures also allows you to clean them and brush your mouth.

Wearing Dentures for the First Time

If you’ve just had your new dentures, it’s normal to experience minor discomfort and soreness. Therefore, you can wear the dentures for a few hours daily and gradually increase the time you wear them. Be sure to notify your dentist if you experience severe pain or sensitivity or if your dentures feel loose or too tight.

When Not to Wear Dentures

There are instances when you shouldn’t wear dentures. For instance, your dentist will advise you to remove your dentures when sleeping. It gives your gums and mouth time to rest and reduces the risk of bacterial build-up in the mouth.

Sleeping with dentures can expose them to pressure, causing them to break, injuring your mouth, and potentially choking you in sleep. Removing dentures when sleeping ensures they stay in perfect condition and eliminates accidents.

Apart from sleeping, you should remove your dentures when cleaning and brushing your mouth. You can also remove them during strenuous activities like exercise since there’s a higher risk of biting down too hard, which can cause them to break or dislodge.

Additionally, you shouldn’t wear dentures if your gums are infected or sore. Wearing them can cause increased discomfort and worsen the infection. Consult your dentist when unsure whether you should wear your dentures.

If you stop wearing the dentures for longer, they might not fit well. For instance, the gums and bones tend to shrink and change shape, making the dentures lose. Similarly, without the support of dentures, your facial muscles will collapse over time, affecting your appearance.

Storing the Dentures

After removing your dentures, clean them thoroughly to remove bacteria and plaque and prevent foul odor. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and a non-abrasive solution or toothpaste. Then, rinse them thoroughly and store them in a clean, dry, ventilated denture container. You can also soak them overnight in a denture solution.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Are you ready to improve your smile and oral function with dentures? Contact Andover Cosmetic Dental Group for more information.

Our dentists in Andover, MA also welcome patients from the below nearby areas:

  • North Andover
  • Lawrence
  • Methuen
  • Tewksbury
  • North Reading
  • Middleton
  • Wilmington
  • Dracut
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