The average mouth has over 10,000 taste buds. They don’t just cover your tongue. The roof of your mouth also has taste receptors that send signals to your brain. Your taste buds work with your sense of smell, allowing you to experience full flavors. Concerns about dentures affecting your taste sensations are normal, but there’s no reason to worry. Here’s what you need to know about dentures to enjoy a variety of flavors.
Diminished Taste Sensations Are Temporary
As you age, your senses weaken gradually, including your sense of taste and smell. Researchers have found that flavor sensitivity in the elderly is 49 times lower than in youth. This is a result of a decreased sense of smell and fewer taste buds.
People often attribute poor taste sensations to their dentures covering the roof of their mouths, but this is rarely the case. Your dentures will affect your sense of taste temporarily after getting them, but it shouldn’t last longer than a week or two. If the problem persists and foods just aren’t as flavorful, there may be another cause.
How to Avoid Changes in Your Taste
You can ensure your dentures don’t leave a bad taste in your mouth by following a few tips:
- Keep Your Dentures Clean: Bacteria and plaque buildup on dentures can affect your taste. It can also cause your dentures to smell. You can avoid unwanted tastes and foul odors by keeping your dentures clean. Brush them at least once a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a mild hand soap or dishwashing liquid. Rinse your dentures after eating. Soak your dentures in an overnight solution to kill any bacteria your toothbrush couldn’t reach.
- Make Sure Your Dentures Fit: Poor-fitting dentures can cause food residue to get trapped underneath them, which can leave an unpleasant taste in your mouth. Ensure your dentures fit snugly by visiting your dentist regularly to have them relined.
- Consider Dental Implants: Dental implants can anchor your denture to your jawbone to benefit from unmatched support. However, they also do not cover the roof of your mouth, lessening the risk of your dentures affecting taste sensations.
Caring for your dentures correctly and visiting your dentist regularly can ensure you don’t lose your sense of taste. If you notice a decrease in your ability to taste after getting your dentures, rest assured, it is most likely temporary.
About Dr. Sharlenne Sumpter
Dr. Sumpter earned her dental degree from the Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry and has continued her education in many advanced services, including conscious sedation and dental prosthetics. She is a proud member of the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry. Request an appointment through her website or call her office at (903) 600-9612.