It’s pretty clear that dentures make a difference at meals. Those with missing teeth can chew many foods more easily by wearing them. Still, these prosthetics don’t just impact how you chew an entrée. Dentures could affect your sense of taste, too. They may well alter your dish’s flavor if you don’t take precautions. So, your New Bedford dentist wants to offer some guidance. Here are some ways dentures can disrupt your sense of taste and what you can do about it.
How Could Dentures Affect Your Sense of Taste?
Though lifelike, dentures can distort your sense of taste in ways natural teeth don’t. These include:
A Poor Fit
You may use adhesives to keep ill-fitting dentures in place. If so, you could be having a major impact on your taste buds.
You see, denture creams often affect taste sensations. Patients tend to describe them as having a “metallic” flavor that overwhelms the feeling of a food or drink. In fact, overusing such a cream or adhesive risks temporary taste loss.
Cover Your Palate
Many upper dentures feature (among other things) a base plate. When present, this component will cover your mouth’s palate. It can also reduce your sense of taste at times.
The truth is that taste buds aren’t just on your tongue. As it happens, many of them exist on the roof of your mouth. That means covering them with a denture’s base plate can affect your taste sensations.
Food Deposit Buildup
Dentures certainly do help you chew meals. However, they build up food deposits and stains when doing so. This debris can overwhelm your senses and lead to taste loss.
Very inexpensive dentures are especially prone to the “food deposit” issue. Since these restorations use low-quality and porous plastic, they pick up many odors and tastes. The result is that your breakfast, lunch, and dinner may taste quite different from how they should.
What Can You Do About It?
Thankfully, you can keep dentures from affecting your sense of taste. All you have to do is follow the right tips and tricks. simple tips. Some notable ones are:
- Clean Your Dentures – Food deposits won’t reach your dentures if you clean them daily. So, remember to rinse them after meals and brush them nightly with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
- Get Implant Dentures – Another option is to switch to implant dentures, which lack a base plate. You can trust that they won’t cover your palate.
- Talk to a Dentist – Since taste loss can arise from many factors, try discussing the matter with a dentist. They’ll examine your mouth, assess your issue’s root cause, and offer reliable treatment.
It’s possible to taste great things even as you grow older and lose teeth. So, use the facts above so your dentures don’t get in the way of excellent flavors.
About the Practice
Sound Dentistry is based in New Bedford, MA. Led by its amazing trio of dentists, our practice seeks to give each patient their ideal smile. That means our custom treatments span preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, as well as emergency dental care. Naturally, among our offerings are high-quality dentures that can restore your full smile in a short time. For more details or to book a visit, you can reach us on our website or by phone at (508)-996-6777.