Patients missing teeth may experience various problems like loss of confidence while smiling, difficulty speaking, or inability to eat particular types of food. Dentists recommend wearing dentures to replace missing teeth and restore a natural appearance.
What are dentures?
Dentures are appliances made to fit and replace a person’s missing teeth and restore their look and functions. there are partial dentures for specific missing teeth and full dentures to replace all upper or lower teeth
What is denture stomatitis?
Denture stomatitis is also known as thrush. Denture stomatitis is an infection caused by candida( yeast or fungi); it causes inflammation and sores around the mouth, often known as oral thrush.
There are three classifications of denture stomatitis;
-Localized inflammation
-More diffuse erythema (redness on parts covered by denture)
-inflammatory nodular/papillary hyperplasia
How to spot denture stomatitis?
Symptoms of oral stomatitis may mostly go unnoticed by patients. here are the signs and symptoms to look for stomatitis:
- pain and discomfort In the mouth
- White or reddish patches on the tongue, lips, mouth, and central areas covered by the denture
- Dry mouth
- bad breath
- Itchy burning sensation
- Unpleasant taste
Who is likely to suffer from stomatitis?
According to research, denture stomatitis commonly affects a particular group of people;
- People with poor oral health hygiene
- Cancer patients undergoing treatment
- Research shows that 70% of people wearing dentures have denture stomatitis
- Research also suggests that denture stomatitis is more common in women and the older generation
- People with endocrine dysfunction, nutritional deficiency, and immunosuppression
- Patients with diabetes
- Patients under medication for rheumatoid arthritis
- Patients taking medications that cause dry mouth
- Patients on steroids or antibiotic medication for a long time.
- Diabetes patients.
Causes of denture stomatitis
- Poor oral hygiene
- Prolonged use of dentures and wearing them overnight
- Accumulation of denture plaques due to inadequate occlusion
- Yeast and bacterial contamination
- Improper fitting of dentures.
How to manage and prevent denture stomatitis
Maintain a good oral health hygiene
Keep your teeth and mouth clean by brushing your teeth regularly(after meals), floss and use mouth wash, use a fluoride treatment, avoid harmful foods and drinks and visit the dentist regularly. Once you see early signs of redness and inflammation, use home remedies like gargling saline water and gels like imigran Australia for quick relief and prevention of further infection.
Remove and rinse dentures after eating, handle dentures carefully while cleaning and clean your mouth thoroughly after removing dentures. Use a gentle toothbrush to clean your tongue, cheeks, and roof of your mouth.
Clean denture properly
Thorough clean dentures to remove plaque and stains. Use proper cleaning products to prevent damage that could create complications and cause bacterial growth.
How to care for dentures
Brushing
o brush dentures, you need a brush specifically designed for cleaning dentures.do not use an ordinary toothbrush. To properly brush dentures, remove them from your mouth, properly clean them with the denture brush once or twice a day, and rinse dentures. Follow instructions provided by the denture brush manufacturer.
Soaking
Soaking cleans dentures deeply and also helps store them overnight. It is crucial to remove dentures overnight to let your gums rest.
Soak your denture in cleansers like sodium hydrochloride, baking soda, mouth washers, or water.do not soak for more than ten hours if using cleansers.
Professional cleaning
Visit the dentist at least once a year for evaluation and professional cleaning
While cleaning denture avoid;
Abrasive cleaning materials- stiff brushes, strong cleansers, and harsh kinds of toothpaste to avoid damaging your dentures
Bleaching products-avoid using any bleaching products to avoid weakening dentures. avoid soaking metal attachments in solutions containing chlorine
Hot water-avoid hot or boiling water that could warp your dentures.
Stop or avoid smoking
According to research, nicotine stomatitis was found in 60% of pipe smokers and 30% of cigarette smokers. Although smoking may not be the only cause of stomatitis, it contributes highly to the further formation of bacteria and aggravates the symptoms.
Pros and Cons wearing dentures
pros
Restore your smile-smiling without teeth affects your confidence. Dentures can be customized to look exactly like your teeth or even better.
Aides chewing– variety of food can be impossible or difficult to chew without teeth. You will no longer need to restrict yourself on what to eat.
Helps restore your appearance- dentures will help ou facial muscles from sagging by replacing the support in your face that was created by your natural teeth
Self-care becomes easier– all dentures are removable and come with cleaning brushes for easier cleaning and maintenance
Restore your speech–you may have difficulty pronouncing some words without teeth. Dentures help eliminate the problem of speech.
Reduces wear and tear–partial dentures help maintain the strength of your remaining teeth because you will not depend on a few teeth to chew
Comfort- dentures are made to be comfortable and perform all functions of natural teeth.
Affordable- dentures are available and cost-effective
Enjoy eating out – not having to restrict yourself on what to eat allows you to enjoy eating out.
Cons
It takes time to adjust to wearing dentures. You will take some time to properly eat and speak once you have them fitted for the first time.
Dentures need frequent replacement, ideally after five years to eight years. As you grow older, your facial structure changes, and dentures may not correctly fit as they used to while installing for the first time.
The upper plate of your mouth plays a role in taste and smell. You will not get the real taste of food while wearing dentures on your upper palate.
Dentures could cause an effection if not correctly installed, and proper hygiene is not observed.
Some people may have an allergic reaction to dentures due to the material used to manufacture irritating gums and teeth.
Conclusion
Denture stomatitis is asymptomatic, and patients may not spot the symptoms early enough. Proper care and oral hygiene is the best way to spot the first signs of stomatitis. Use home remedies to cure early signs and maintain proper oral hygiene and see a doctor if you have severe symptoms. It is recommended to schedule visits to the dentists at least every six months to ensure proper fitting of dentures and catch any infections signs.