n conclusion, optimization of the t

n conclusion, optimization of the treatment of edentulous patients for reducing systemic health risks associated with removable denture wearing requires not only insight into the microbiota present on denture surfaces, but also evidence-based guidelines for nocturnal care. The present study demonstrated that overnight storage of removable dentures by means of an alkaline peroxide-based tablet decreases bacterial and Candida levels of both developing and maturing biofilms. All in all, the observed reduction of levels of biofilm and potentially harmful bacteria under denture nocturnal effervescent tablet storage suggests that the use of alkaline peroxide-based tablets may affect denture-associated health concerns directly, by affecting the denture biofilm mass and composition, but also potentially indirectly by preventing the formation of a more complex fungal biofilm. If one reasonably assumes that oral and denture hygiene in elderly institutionalized people is unsatisfactory and highly associated with denture stomatitis and with more serious systemic diseases, the study's findings may be highly appropriate for the referred target population by providing evidence for establishing a clinical guideline – currently inexistent – for overnight denture storage.