Everyone has bad breath from time to time. Occasional odors, such as when you eat a pungent meal, are usually nothing to worry about. But what if you are struggling with persistent bad breath? Could your prosthetic teeth be to blame? This blog post delves into what causes dentures to smell bad. It also provides information to help you enjoy a cleaner, fresher smile.
Why Do Dentures Smell Bad?
In most cases, dentures can start to smell bad for the same reasons that people who still have their natural teeth may develop bad breath — food particles and bacteria. When bacteria accumulate on your prosthetic teeth and the gum tissue beneath it, unpleasant odors can be the result. Food particles can also collect in the crevices of your denture or mouth, further exacerbating the problem.
Another common cause of odors is the use of cigarettes. The smoke can sneak into the tiny pores in your artificial teeth, causing them to smell stale.
How to Fight Denture Odors
Here are a few steps you can take to minimize odors and achieve a fresher, more confident smile:
Keep Up with Oral Hygiene
Each night, you should thoroughly clean your denture with a soft brush. You should also clean your oral tissues, including your gums, your tongue, and the inside of your cheeks. Your dental team can coach you on the techniques and products you should use to keep unwanted bacteria at bay.
It is also wise to periodically soak your denture in a cleaning solution. Leave it in the solution overnight to deep clean it and help it to have a neutral smell.
Keep Your Mouth Moist
Saliva serves a few different purposes in the mouth, one of which is to rinse away food particles and harmful bacteria. A lack of saliva, therefore, can create an environment where odor-causing substances thrive.
To promote saliva production, be sure to drink enough water. You could also suck on sugar-free candy. If one of your medications is causing dry mouth as a side effect, talk to the doctor who prescribed it. They might be able to adjust your dosage or recommend an alternative medication.
Kick Bad Habits
If you smoke, chew tobacco, or use vaping products, your risk of bad breath and denture odors is relatively high. You should do what you can to stop those habits, or at least cut back on their frequency.
Another harmful habit is the overconsumption of sugar, which can promote dry mouth and allow for abundant bacterial growth. Sweets should only be an occasional treat!
Talk to Your Dentist
In some cases, bad breath with dentures is the result of gum disease or another type of oral infection. If you believe that might be true in your case, you should see your dentist as soon as possible. Proper treatment can improve your oral wellness and contribute to a better-smelling smile.
Smelly dentures are an embarrassing problem. Use the above-mentioned tips to keep your mouth fresh and healthy.
Meet the Practice
All Dental is proud to provide the Westborough community with a broad range of oral health services, including dentures, denture maintenance, oral hygiene coaching, gum disease treatment, and more. If you are struggling with an odorous prosthetic, we would be happy to help you identify the cause of the problem and address it. Get in touch with our team at 508-217-7265.