During treatment of denture stomatitis, how many hours nightly should dentures be kept out of the mouth?

• A. At least 8 hours
• B. 1 hour
• C. 24 hours
• D. 0 hours

Answer: (A)

Denture stomatitis tends to improve when the denture is not worn for extended periods, especially overnight, because Candida and other microbes thrive in the warm, moist environment under a denture. Keeping the dentures out for a long overnight stretch reduces moisture, increases tissue rest time, and allows a thorough cleaning of both the mouth and the denture. This 8-hour overnight break helps inhibit fungal growth and supports healing while you apply antifungal treatment.

So, the best approach is to remove the dentures for a minimum of eight hours each night, then clean and disinfect them before reinsertions in the morning.