How Many Hours A Day Should You Wear Partial Dentures?

If you are dealing with missing teeth, a great way to restore the look and function of your smile is partial dentures.

They are a type of dental prosthetic that hold one or more teeth. Dentures are custom-made to match the shape and color of the rest of your natural teeth, giving you a perfectly healthy and happy smile.

One common question people have when it comes to partial dentures is how long they actually have to wear them. Can you eat with them? Should you take them out before bed? Find out all the answers in this short blog post!

How Long Should You Wear Your Partial Dentures for?

In general, it’s best to wear your partial dentures for around 8 hours every single day. This way, you are giving your jaw and gums a chance to get used to the dentures while also reducing the risk of developing sore spots.

Generally, it’s recommended to remove your partial dentures before going to bed. You can eat with them, but be sure to clean them after, as they can trap food particles.

If your gums are feeling sore, then remove your dentures and give your mouth a break. You can also gently massage the gums to relieve some of the discomfort. 

What Happens If You Don’t Wear Your Dentures?

If you stop wearing your dentures, your gums and jawbone can shrink. 

The simple act of chewing helps stimulate the jaw and brings blood filled with nutrients. When you have a missing tooth, that particular area of the jaw is no longer stimulated and therefore deprived of nutrients.

This means that over time, you can end up losing jawbone and gum mass, which will make it even harder to wear dentures in the future. Dentures are not designed for aesthetic purposes only. Wearing them helps you maintain good oral health, so be sure to follow all your dentist’s instructions to the letter.

Tips to Get Used to Dentures

A common reason why patients don’t wear their partial dentures as recommended is that they feel uncomfortable in the beginning. Unfortunately, the only way to remove this discomfort is to continue to wear them long enough for the mouth to get accustomed to them.

Here are some tips that can help:

• Wear them for short times in the beginning, then slowly increase it
• Take them out before eating and going to bed to let your gums rest
• Massage your gums gently
• Take OTC pain medication

Interested in Partial Dentures?

Find out if partial dentures are the right solution for you by seeing Forest Lake dentist Dr. Jonathan Siverson at Forest Lake Smiles for a consultation. He can help you access a personalized path to a new and improved smile.

You can book an appointment at Forest Lake Smiles online, or call us at (651) 464-8207 today to find out more about our smile restoration services.