Not everyone who wears dentures will experience this phenomenon, but if your food has been tasting funny lately, it might not have anything to do with growing older or losing tastebuds. That’s right – the problem could be your trusty (or in this case, not-so-trusty) replacement teeth! Keep reading to learn more.
Understanding Your Sense of Taste
It’s true that as people age, their senses may become weaker or more sensitive. This tendency could affect your sense of taste but might not necessarily be the root problem in your situation, particularly if the change seemed relatively sudden.
While your tongue is largely responsible for receiving and sending flavor signals, there are also plenty of tastebuds lining your upper palate, throat, and even your cheeks. Your sense of smell, too, can influence how appetizing a meal seems. So there’s no need to jump to conclusions and blame your taste-loss on age just yet!
Where Do My Dentures Come into Play?
The way your dentures are designed can have some pretty specific effects on your oral taste receptors. Here are the basics:
- Increased saliva production. Having a foreign appliance securely fastened to your gums stimulates your mouth’s saliva production, which can dilute even the most well-seasoned meals.
- Excessive denture adhesive. It’s annoying when your dentures slip out of place, especially when you’re eating. However, using too much denture adhesive can create an aftertaste that gives your food a not-so-pleasant metallic tang.
- Upper palate dentures. Remember how your upper palate is lined with tastebuds? A set of upper dentures can block those tastebuds with its gum-colored plastic base, meaning you might not be picking up on as many flavors.
- Trapped food particles. It’s important to thoroughly clean your dentures from top-to-bottom, otherwise food particles could get trapped in your mouth for hours or days on end. That will definitely throw off fresh food’s usual taste profile!
Can I Solve Any of These Problems?
Absolutely! No one wants to leave you out on a limb. Here are some simple solutions for denture-induced taste-loss:
- Wait for your mouth to adjust. If excess saliva is to blame, your sense of taste should return once your mouth gets used to your oral appliance.
- Have your dentures re-fitted. Instead of relying so heavily on denture adhesive, you can ask your dentist to inspect how they fit on your gums. A little bit of tweaking might be all it takes to help them stay in place more reliably!
- Consider lower-profile tooth replacement options, such as dental implants. If your dentures are covering up upper-palate tastebuds, freeing them with a slimmer restoration could be worth it.
- Clean your dentures thoroughly and regularly! Your dentist can give you maintenance tips, so don’t be shy about asking them for pointers.
As a restorative dental treatment, dentures should improve your quality of life, not make it more difficult to enjoy your favorite dishes. Your dentist would be happy to help you get to the bottom of things and can give you personalized suggestions for solving your flavor problem. Make sure to give them a call!
About the Practice
Dr. Troy Jones and Dr. George Knight are accomplished dentists who believe in the importance of education. They won’t just treat your oral concerns; they’ll keep you well-informed about their findings and your treatment options. If you have questions or concerns about how your dentures might be affecting your sense of taste, give their office a call at (210) 349-4408.