One of the things you may have missed before you got dentures was the ability to eat the foods you love. Now that you have teeth again, you can finally enjoy your favorites once again, right? But what happens when those old comfort foods don’t taste quite the same as you remembered? If you’ve recently gotten dentures for the first time, you may notice that things aren’t as flavorful as you recall, and believe it or not, it’s not all in your head. Here’s why your new dentures could be impacting the taste of your food.
Location, Location, Location
If you are noticing that your favorite foods don’t seem quite as delicious as they used to, this could be due to the location of your new dentures. This is because you have tastebuds located all over your mouth. While many are in your tongue, there are some that are in your cheeks and even on the roof of your mouth. When you have an upper-jaw denture, it can block some of those tastebuds, but you should still be able to taste with the other ones. The same thing can also happen with a lower jaw denture, but it is often less noticeable. The good news is that with time your mouth will adjust to your dentures and eventually flavors will once again be more pronounced.
A Sticky Situation
If you use denture adhesive, this could also alter the taste of your favorite foods. Denture adhesive comes in many flavors, and sometimes they can linger in your mouth and transfer to what you’re eating. If you notice this, consider switching to a flavorless adhesive.
Dirty Dentures
If you aren’t keeping your dentures clean, there is a chance that they can become foul-tasting and affect the taste of the foods you eat. To properly clean your dentures, be sure to remove them for a thorough brushing and flossing at least once a day. You should also rinse them well and be sure to keep them soaking in water or denture soak overnight, and whenever they are not in your mouth.
Bad Habits
Smoking is a particularly dangerous habit for your dentures. Not only can the heat damage them, but the smoke and chemicals can permeate into them and become impossible to remove. This in turn can cause them to smell terrible and change the way your food tastes, too.
Remember, your dentures are meant to replace your natural teeth, but because they are prosthetic, they will never bite or function exactly the same way as natural teeth do. Still, with time, proper maintenance, and a few modifications, you can still enjoy many of the foods you did before you got them, and even experience the bounty of flavors you once loved.
About Dr. Reed
Dr. Jennifer A. Reed treats patients of all ages and is skilled in a variety of dental procedures, from complex reconstruction to prosthetic and implant dentistry. She is an active member of NDA, ADA, AAWD, American Prosthodontic Society, American College of Prosthodontists as well as a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.
To schedule an appointment for dentures at Smile Specialties, please visit our website or call us today at 402-488-5007.
