Stomatitis is a mouth infection caused by excess candida – a naturally occurring fungus that lives on the body and mouth. While perfectly harmless in small quantities, an overabundance of candida can lead to stomatitis, also known as oral thrush.
Denture wears are more commonly affected by this type of infection than non-wears, as the areas of the mouth and gums covered by the denture harbour the bacteria which causes stomatitis. We will cover more about denture stomatitis shortly, but if you suspect you are dealing with an oral infection or are dealing with sores related to your denture, it’s best to visit your denturist or search for the closest denture clinic near me to have it looked at.
What Does Oral Thrush Look Like?
Oral thrush is characterized by small, raised, inflamed sores with a whiteish or yellow centre. While sores can appear anywhere in and around the mouth, they are most common on the inner cheeks, palate, tongue, and gums. The sores can be painful and make actions like eating, swallowing, and drinking uncomfortable.
Who is Most Affected by Stomatitis?
Oral thrush can affect many segments of the population, including those with poor oral hygiene and those taking steroids or antibiotics. But unfortunately, conditions in the mouth make denture wearers more susceptible to stomatitis than non-wearers.
Some of the leading causes of denture stomatitis include:
- Poor denture and oral hygiene practices
- Wearing your denture for prolonged periods, like overnight
- Consuming high levels of sugars and carbohydrates
- Smoking
- Alcohol consumption
- Taking medications like corticosteroids
Age and diet are also important factors that may increase your odds of developing denture stomatitis; the condition is more common among those over 65 who suffer from nutritional deficiencies.
How Do I know if I have Denture Stomatitis?
Mouth sores are the most common sign of denture stomatitis, but other symptoms can include:
- Painful chewing or swallowing
- Irritated, raised bumps, with or without white lesions, along the roof of your mouth, inner cheeks, or gums
- Sores in the corners of your mouth
- Bad breath
- Swelling and slight bleeding
By some estimates, between 20 and 70 percent of denture wears will encounter some form of denture stomatitis. However, there are simple ways to minimize the risk.
How to Treat and Prevent Denture Stomatitis
Denture wearers are disproportionately affected by denture stomatitis, primarily due to ineffective denture hygiene practices. To help avoid this oral infection, denture clinics recommend getting into a daily routine of caring for your dentures – just as you would with your natural teeth.
- Remove your denture every night (or while you sleep). Exposure to air and saliva helps to cleanse your mouth of bacteria and stomatitis causing fungi to naturally
- Brush your denture daily and leave it to soak overnight in a denture cleaning solution
- Brush and floss and remaining teeth, and don’t forget to also brush your gums and tongue
Often denture stomatitis will go away on its own with improved oral hygiene practices. However, if the stomatitis is affecting your ability to eat or sleep, you may want to consult a denture clinic near me. Your denturist can prescribe over-the-counter anti-fungal medications, which will take care of the infection quickly.
In the most severe cases, laser therapy or surgical removal may be required to eliminate stomatitis that doesn’t respond to anti-fungal treatments.
Don’t let a mild infection turn into a major problem. If you have reason to believe that you’re suffering from denture stomatitis or any other type of denture issue, make an appointment with your preferred denture clinic as soon as possible.
