5 Common Warning Signs of Denture Stomatitis

If you've lost one or more of your teeth, dentures can provide an ideal replacement. However, you still need to pay attention to your oral health even after being fitted for dentures. If you don't regularly brush and disinfect your dentures, certain oral health issues can develop. One of the most common is denture stomatitis.

Denture stomatitis is a type of local infection that develops due to a high concentration of candida microbes around the base of the dentures. This is actually quite a common condition, and many patients won't even notice any symptoms. However, early detection is always better, and there are certain signs you can watch out for.

Here are just five of the most common.

1. Discomfort

When denture stomatitis is allowed to develop, you may start to experience oral discomfort. Soreness is most commonly experienced in areas of the mouth that touch the dentures, and you might notice such discomfort more when pressure is placed on your dentures as you eat. You may also notice soreness extending down into your throat, and some patients with denture stomatitis experience a burning sensation around their dentures.

2. Swelling

Like most other areas of your body, parts of your mouth that suffer an infection may swell slightly. You might not notice the swelling itself, but you may find that your dentures suddenly don't fit as well as they used to. If your dentures suddenly feel less comfortable or less secure, denture stomatitis might be the root cause.          

3. Dry Mouth

Denture stomatitis is often associated with dryness in the mouth. This is commonly caused by a decrease in saliva production. Like swelling, dry mouth is another issue that may cause your dentures to fit less securely.

4. Discoloration

One of the most common signs of denture stomatitis is discolouration within your mouth. This usually means seeing red or white patches along areas that are in close contact with your dentures. However, you may also notice white or red patches across your tongue, lips, inner cheeks, or along the roof of your mouth.

5. Bad Breath

Bad breath can be extremely unpleasant and embarrassing, and it also hints at underlying oral health issues. If you have dentures, bad breath often results from not keeping them clean. This issue tends to get worse if denture stomatitis is allowed to develop. As well as bad odours, you may notice an unpleasant taste in your mouth that makes eating far less enjoyable.

For more information, contact a local dentist.