Seniors who wear dentures to bed are at a higher risk for developing pneumonia than those who remove them, a new study has found.
The study, published in the
Journal of Dental Research, tracked more than 500 adults over the age of 85 over a three-year period,
Fox News reports.
The researchers recorded 48 deaths and hospitalizations associated with pneumonia, and found that among the 453 denture wearers, 186 who did not remove them before sleep were at a 2.3-fold higher risk for pneumonia than those who did.
They also found overnight denture wearing was likely to lead to tongue and denture plaque, gum inflammation, and other oral issues.
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