What is Denture Stomatitis?


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Denture stomatitis is a form of oral thrush. It is caused by a yeast or fungus called candida (commonly known as thrush), which results in a mouth infection. Stomatitis is also a term used to refer to swollen gum tissue. The bacteria lives in your mouth all the time and only becomes problematic when the bacteria in your mouth is out of balance. Denture wearers frequently suffer from it, as do people with poor dental hygiene, but it is not necessarily because of poor oral hygiene. Diabetics and steroid takers are also at risk of thrush developing. People taking antibiotics can also develop the infection.

What are the Symptoms of Stomatitis?

It may be that you have very few symptoms at all but there are some things to watch out for. When you take your dentures out, the area underneath may be very red. It could be painful when you are putting your dentures in or taking them out. You may also find you have red sores at the corners of your lips or on the roof of your mouth. White patches can appear anywhere on the inside of your mouth. You will most likely have bad breath and your dentures will feel that they are irritating the skin more than normal.


If you suspect you have denture stomatitis, visit your dentist. He will be able to recognize the symptoms and prescribe a suitable course of treatment. If it goes untreated, your mouth will become very sore and it can ultimately lead to poorly fitting dentures in the near future. It can also last for years if you do not notice it and get some treatment.

Treating Stomatitis

The dentist will initially tell you to work on your oral hygiene, keep your mouth clean and rinse thoroughly every time you eat. If you smoke, he will recommend that you cut down as it can increase the growth of the infection. He will also remind you to keep your dentures clean, soaking them in water over night and brushing them with a soft toothbrush, so that the infection is unable to spread.

If after a few days neither of these have worked, the dentist will prescribe a medicine for you, which should clear the infection up very quickly. Treatment can take the form of tablets and lozenges and may last for one month.

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