Sleeping With Dentures Increases Pneumonia Risk in Older Adults

Sleeping With Dentures Increases Pneumonia Risk in Older Adults

Japanese researchers have found that wearing dentures while sleeping raises the risk of pneumonia among older adults. Led by Toshimitsu Iinuma, DDS, PhD, a team from Nihon University School of Dentistry in Tokyo investigated associations between oral health behaviors and the incidence of pneumonia among subjects age 85 and older living in long-term care facilities. The team randomly selected 524 seniors, who were followed for 3 years. Of the participants, 453 wore dentures; of this subset, 186 participants (41%) reported wearing their prostheses while sleeping.

During the evaluation period, 48 instances of pneumonia occurred, resulting in 20 deaths and 28 acute hospitalizations. Using the multivariate Cox model, researchers were able to associate overnight denture wear with a 2.3-fold increase in the risk of developing pneumonia. The team also reported that, when compared to subjects who removed their dentures at night, participants who wore dentures while sleeping were more likely to experience higher levels of tongue and denture plaque, periodontal inflammation, Candida albicans, and circulating interleukin-6.

The paper, “Denture Wearing During Sleep Doubles the Risk of Pneumonia in Very Elderly,” published in the October Journal of Dental Research, indicates that edentulous patients should be advised to remove their dentures before bedtime, and ensure the prostheses are cleaned thoroughly and regularly. These practices will not only reduce the risk of pneumonia, but also help decrease oral inflammation and the microbial burden among this vulnerable patient population.

Hygiene Connection E-Newsletter

November 2014