Life with dentures might feel like a revolving door of sensations. One minute something that used to be second nature feels completely different – and then the next you’ve gotten used to it. What about your sense of taste, though? Will a bulky, inorganic prosthetic affect food’s finer flavors? If you love culinary delights, this idea is probably intimidating. After all, unlike soreness or speaking mechanics, lack of taste isn’t something you can “get used to”!
The simple answer is that dentures might change how you experience flavors. There are ways to mitigate this possibility, though, so keep reading for more details.
The Science of Taste
This sensation is often associated with the tongue. For the most part, this is for good reason – tongues have about 10,000 taste buds! However, you can find these flavor receptors along your upper palate, throat, and cheeks as well. Long explanation short, your sense of smell can also influence your ability to pick up on culinary zest. Basically, it would be very difficult for dentures to impair your sense of taste completely.
How Dentures Might Dull Flavors
Where dentures might present roadblocks for fully experiencing life’s spices is in prosthetic coverage and lingering aftertastes. For example:
- Upper dentures can cover the taste buds lining your palate
- Oral devices can cause your mouth to produce more saliva, too much of which will dull flavors
- Overusing denture adhesives can create a metallic aftertaste in your mouth, adding a “delightful” metal tang to your food
- If you’re not the most consistent about cleaning your dentures, leftover food particles can also throw off a dish’s usual profile
As you can see, many of these obstacles are situation specific. That means there are ways to free up your mouth so you can sense more flavors!
How to Liberate Your Taste Buds
When dentures are making your favorite snacks seem bland, there are three main solutions you can try:
- Consider dental implants, which are low-profile replacements that don’t cover up taste buds
- Clean your dentures consistently and thoroughly so yesterday’s lunch doesn’t affect today’s breakfast!
- Ask your dentist if your dentures need an adjustment – that’s much more effective than trying to fix excessive slippage with excessive adhesives
The point of your dentures is to improve your quality of life, not sour it by diminishing your ability to enjoy meals. If these solutions don’t produce the results you’re looking for, talk to your dentist. When home remedies fail, that’s where your oral professional can step in and help you find something that works!
About the Author
Dr. J.D. Robinson has taken many advanced education courses for a plethora of dental specialties, once of which is complex restorative dentistry. This zeal for sharpening his skills demonstrates his dedication to his practice and to his patients. Comfort is a priority at the Robison Dental Group, so if your dentures are compromising your ability to enjoy food, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Robinson and his team at 734-453-6320.