What is meant by Oral Stomatitis?

Candida is a type of fungus living in everyone’s mouth. If the microbe grows excessively and proliferates inside the mouth, it will cause a fungal infection called denture stomatitis. This condition is also known as denture thrush, oral thrush or oral stomatitis. People wearing dental appliances like dentures, braces, and night guards are highly susceptible to developing oral thrush. Fortunately, this condition is easily treatable and not life-threatening.

How do dental appliances cause thrush?

Improper cleaning of oral appliances is the critical factor causing dental thrush. As such dental devices thrive in damp environments, microbial growth, followed by bacterial build-up, is inevitable if not cleaned and maintained correctly.

Likely, wearing those appliances incorrectly also leads to oral stomatitis.

For instance, if a denture base does not sit properly on the roof of a person’s mouth, yeast will stick underneath the appliance. It also paves the way for bacteria growth and ends in oral thrush.

What are the risk factors that are associated with denture stomatitis?

Besides wearing dental appliances, especially denture teeth, various things are also linked to oral stomatitis. Here are a few:

• Dry mouth syndrome
• Diabetes
• Anemia
• Smoking
• Hormonal changes
• Nutritional deficiencies
• HIV
• Taking steroids
• Broad-spectrum antibiotics

The chances are higher that candida can enter the bloodstream for those with a weakened immune system. In such circumstances, the microbe can reach the eyes, heart, brain, and other vital organs through blood and cause severe disorders.

What are the signs of denture stomatitis?

Lesions and light-colored patches in tissues around the dental appliance is a common signs of oral stomatitis. Aside from this, there are a few other symptoms indicating the denture thrush, as listed below:

• Pan and Redness underneath the dentures
• Cracks and Soreness at the corners of the mouth
• Sense of cottony feel inside the mouth
• Loss of taste
• Difficulties in swallowing
• White or red-colored patches on lips, gums, and inner cheeks

We advise our patients to visit the clinic immediately if they notice cheese-like lesions in lips, gums, or inner cheeks after wearing the prosthetic devices for a long time.

How do dentists diagnose denture thrush?

Dental doctors can detect the thrush by looking at the cheese-like patches and the pattern of Redness in the mouth. If the pattern is identical to the shape of the dental appliance the patient is wearing, they confirm it with laboratory tests.

It involves taking a small sample (mainly in the palate) from the mouth and sending it to the pathology lab for confirmation.

What are the treatment options available to get rid of denture stomatitis?

Depending on the depth of the infection, the treatment option varies. Dentists tend to clean plaque build-up if the condition is detected early to block the infection’s progress. Besides this, the following in-office treatments are prescribed to cure denture thrush:

• Anti-fungal treatments – Anti-fungal medications are the first line of defense for long-standing cases of denture stomatitis. Taking anti-fungal lozenges or applying anti-fungal ointments will alleviate the pain and fasten healing. However, it is not adequate for people with weak immune systems.
• Laser treatments – Laser therapy is prescribed for those who cannot get a cure with anti-fungal treatments. Generally, dentists utilize low-energy laser systems to treat this condition.
• Surgical extraction – Surgical treatment is required when nodules or bumps are formed due to the infection. In such circumstances, dentists prefer surgically removing the infected tissues.

Bottom line

Denture Stomatitis is the oral condition provoked by the overgrowth of candida. This infectious condition makes people with weak immune systems susceptible to developing severe bodily disorders. Even though it is curable, indulging in preventative activities like keeping the prosthetic appliances tidy, removing the dentures before sleep, and dental hygiene activities to avert this condition is better.

Want to know more oral stomatitis prevention tips? Feel free to contact our dentists at Zenith Dentistry.