Dentures are a beautiful, functional, and affordable way for many people to enjoy a complete smile after extensive tooth loss, but many patients report that wearing them diminishes their sense of taste. While wearing dentures can make it difficult to taste food or alter the way you taste it, there are measures you can take to prevent this. Here’s a brief guide to how dentures can affect your sense of taste and how to get the most enjoyment out of your meals.
How Does Aging Affect the Sense of Taste?
People become more likely to wear dentures as they get older because tooth loss becomes more common over time. As people age, their sense of taste tends to lose its intensity, which can make it more difficult for a person wearing dentures to taste food properly. To make things more complicated, this loss of the sense of taste over time can affect different flavors differently. A person who has lost half of their sense of saltiness may have lost three-quarters of their sense of sourness and only one-quarter of their sense of sweetness.
How Can Dentures Affect the Sense of Taste?
Full dentures that replace the top arch of teeth cover a significant portion of the palate, a part of the mouth that contains a wealth of taste buds. This can affect how sensitive a person is to the taste of food by covering the taste receptors in this tissue. While this can be bothersome, many people find that their sense of taste returns to normal as they get used to wearing their dentures.
If a denture is not cared for properly, bacteria and food debris can accumulate on it, giving it a sour or foul taste that can overpower the taste of food while also making oral infections like gum disease more likely. To keep your dentures in great shape and prevent oral health issues, be sure to clean them daily and soak them overnight to eliminate bacterial buildup and allow your mouth some time to relax and clean itself.
Using excessive amounts of denture adhesive can also affect your sense of taste, as the metallic flavor of the oral glue can fight with that of whatever it is you are eating. With practice, you’ll find the right amount of denture adhesive that gives your dentures a comfortable hold without negatively affecting your eating experience.
While it is perfectly possible to thoroughly enjoy a meal with dentures, you may be interested in upgrading to dental implants to optimize your dining pleasure. A brief consultation with your dentist can determine if dental implants can be a great solution for your tooth loss.
About the Author
Dr. Robert Graffeo earned his dental doctorate from the New York University College of Dentistry in 1990 and completed a post-graduate periodontal mini residency at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx. He stays abreast of the latest developments in his field through the Dawson Academy and SPEAR Education. His office in Hoboken, NJ, offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as denture and dental implant services. To learn more about improving your sense of taste while wearing dentures, contact him online or dial (201) 683-3531.