With good care, your dentures can last
you about four to six years before you'll need a replacement.
However, if you don't care for them properly, you may need to get new
dentures sooner. Besides premature aging, dentures that aren't taken
care of properly can leave you open to certain inflammatory
conditions, like stomatitis. Read on to learn more about this
condition and how to treat it.
What Is Stomatitis and What Are the
Symptoms?
Denture-related stomatitis - also known
as denture sore mouth - is a fungal infection caused by a yeast
called candida.
Under normal bodily conditions, candida exists in your mouth and
throat at balanced levels. However, when there is an imbalance or a
weakened immune response, then the yeast can multiply to unhealthy
levels. Some symptoms of stomatitis include:
- Swollen or red gums beneath
dentures
- Bumps or blisters on the roof of
the mouth, throat, lips, gums or tongue.
- Soreness or pain when eating
- Cracks and inflammation around
corners of the mouth
When you don't care for your dentures
the way you should, you're more likely to develop stomatitis.
What Causes It?
Candida easily develops when dentures
aren't cleaned properly. It is also more common in people who sleep
with their dentures in since the appliances can dry out, making it
easier for fungal infections to develop.
While stomatitis can occur underneath
partials and both upper and lower dentures, it is more commonly seen
in patients with complete upper dentures.
If you have a diet high in sugars and
carbs and poor oral hygiene, you raise your risk of the condition.
Stomatitis is also more common in people with underlying diseases,
such as HIV or diabetes. If you suffer from dry mouth (xerostomia)
your risk of stomatitis also increases.
Lastly, certain antibiotics can
increase your risk of stomatitis since these medications reduce the
number of good bacteria in your body.
How Is It Diagnosed?
Your dentist or denturist may be able
to diagnose stomatitis just by looking at the affected tissues
beneath your dentures. The dental team may also swab the denture or
your cheeks to test for the presence of candida.
How Can You Treat Stomatitis?
The good news is that stomatitis is
easily treatable and not a life-threatening condition. Your dentist
may prescribe an antifungal medication to treat the condition. He or
she may also prescribe an antimicrobial mouthwash, like
chlorhexidine.
You need to follow your denturist's
directions for cleaning your dentures properly as well. Toothpaste is
not an adequate solution for cleaning the dentures and can actually
damage them. As a rule, you need to brush and soak your dentures
every day with a denture-cleaning solution. If dentures aren't
cleaned and disinfected properly, then the infection can persist.
Besides cleaning your dentures
properly, make sure that you are practicing good oral hygiene. Brush
your gums, tongue, and remaining teeth with toothpaste before
inserting dentures. By gently brushing your gums, you'll be able to
encourage good circulation in these tissues.
Unless your dentist needs you to wear
your dentures at night (e.g. after multiple extractions when tissues
need to heal), you should be taking the appliances out at night and
soaking them in a cleaning solution.
If you need to take antibiotics for
another medical condition, you should include a probiotic supplement
or eat yogurt, which contains probiotics, so that oral candida
doesn't become imbalanced.
Keep these tips in mind and you'll
lower your risk of stomatitis and extend the life of your dentures.
Contact us at Premier
Dentures and Implants for more information on getting new
dentures or how to take care of your current ones.
