Pneumonia Linked To Wearing Dentures To Bed

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dentureillnessIf you are a denture wearer, sometimes if might seem easier just to wear your dentures to bed. However, easy does not always equal wise. Wearing dentures to bed can actually make you ill. Recent research indicates that wearing your dentures to bed can lead to pneumonia.  Pneumonia is an inflammatory lung infection that can affect one, or both of your lungs. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. It is estimated that about one-third of pneumonia cases in the U.S. are due to viruses. Read on to find out why pneumonia has been linked to wearing dentures to bed.

Dentures

  • Because dentures are so much more comfortable now than ever before, it is tempting to wear them to bed at night.
  • Wearing dentures to bed can be dangerous to your health.
  • Denture wearers who sleep with their dentures are twice as likely to develop pneumonia as those who don’t.

Research

  • A research study followed 524 men and women over a three year period to determine the effects of sleeping with dentures.
  • The participants were 85 years and older.
  • Twenty-eight hospitalizations and 20 deaths due to pneumonia took place within those three years.
  • Forty-one percent of the participants wore their dentures while sleeping. That 41 percent were proven twice as likely to develop pneumonia.
  • Participants who wore their dentures while sleeping were also more likely to develop plaque on their dentures and on their tongue, and to suffer from gingivitis (irritation and inflammation of the gingiva).
  • Dentures can push plaque deeper into the gum line which can lead to periodontal disease.
  • The longer you wear your dentures the more chance the harmful bacteria that causes periodontal disease, a chronic inflammatory disease, can infect the lungs leading to pneumonia.

About your Des Moines Dentist

Your Des Moines dentist offers cosmetic, general, and restorative dental services, and can provide treatment for snoring and sleep apnea. You can reach the Gateway Dental Group by calling (515) 244-9565. We welcome patients from River Bend, Kirkwood Glen, East Village, and neighboring communities.