Experiencing Bad Breath with Your Dentures? Here’s Why and What You Can Do AboutIt

As a denture wearer, it is highly important that you commit to taking care of your dentures properly. You need to ensure that you are putting much-needed effort into maintaining not just your false teeth but your entire mouth.

Experiencing Bad Breath with Your Dentures? Here’s Why and What You Can Do About It

As a denture wearer, it is highly important that you commit to taking care of your dentures properly. You need to ensure that you are putting much-needed effort into maintaining not just your false teeth but your entire mouth.

However, even after putting the right effort into maintenance, dentures can sometimes smell bad, and when this happens, it is important to know the cause and how to remedy the situation.

Below we shall be taking a look at what causes bad denture breath and what wearers can do to get rid of it.

Causes of Bad Smelling Dentures

The are two main reasons why dentures smell bad. Improper cleaning and bacteria build-up.

Just as not brushing your teeth regularly leads to bad breath, irregular or improper brushing of dentures can lead to bad denture breath. When dentures are not cleaned twice a day, food particles and tartar can build up and cause them to smell bad.

The second reason why dentures smell bad is bacteria build-up. Contrary to what you might think, your acrylic dentures are not as solid and smooth as you think. The acrylic actually has tiny surface pores (which are not visible to the naked eye) where food particles and bacteria can hide. These food particles and bacteria are usually removed when you brush and clean your dentures.

However, when you don’t brush well (or regularly), the debris and bacteria can build up and lead to bad breath. This build-up of bacteria from irregular cleaning can also lead to the production of yeast under your dentures (under the denture arch), which then causes a foul odour.

Old age can also increase the amount of bacteria in the mouth (older people have higher amounts of lactobacilli and yeast in their saliva), and for denture wearers, this can increase the risk of foul-smelling dentures. Visiting The Denture Shop regularly to ensure the fit of your dentures and the overall health of your mouth can however help prevent this.

How to Know if Your Dentures Are the Real Cause of Your Bad Breath

Sometimes the foul odour that is coming from your mouth may not be from your dentures. If you’re not certain that your dentures are responsible for the smell, a simple way to test it out is to remove and place the dentures in a Ziploc or sealed plastic bag. After allowing it to rest for a few minutes, open up the sealed bag and take a whiff of the smell. If the smell is bad, then your dentures are the problem. However, if the odour isn’t unpleasant, then something else in your mouth may be causing bad breath. Sometimes the smell may be from your tongue or an infection in your gums or other mouth soft tissues.

How to Get Rid of Bad Denture Breath

Soaking Your Dentures Overnight

One of the most effective ways to keep your dentures odour-free is to always soak them overnight. You can soak them in a mixture of water and vinegar or a cup of denture cleaning solution. In addition to making it easier to clean, soaking your dentures in a denture cleaning solution ensures that any germs or bacteria on the denture get killed and washed away.

Brushing Properly

After allowing your dentures to soak in the cleaning solution overnight, you will also need to gently brush them using a soft-bristled toothbrush and some denture-recommended toothpaste (regular toothpaste are too abrasive and can damage your dentures). This helps to remove any debris or plaque left on the denture that can cause bad breath.

Don’t forget to brush your tongue and gently scrub your gums with some toothpaste. You can also rinse with some antibacterial mouthwash before putting your dentures back in your mouth.

Stay Hydrated Throughout the Day

Drinking more water throughout the day can help you prevent dry mouth, which is pretty common among denture wearers and also one of the reasons why dentures smell. Drinking water improves the production of healthy saliva to wash away the debris and bacteria that cause bad breath.

Invest in Relevant Cleaning Tools

In order to properly clean and maintain your dentures, you need to invest in quality tools and cleaning products such as; denture toothbrushes, denture cleaner tablets, denture toothpaste, and antibacterial mouthwashes.

Regular Dental Visits

In addition to proper denture hygiene, you also need to incorporate regular dental checkups into your routine. Visit a dentist at least once a year for them to check on the quality of your dentures and make any necessary adjustments to their fit. Your gums and overall oral health will also be evaluated, and the dental professional may educate you on how to properly care for your dentures and prevent bad breath.

Conclusion

Bad denture breath can be worrisome for any denture wearer, but understanding its causes can help you prevent the problem. Make a habit of soaking your dentures overnight and cleaning them twice a day. Stay hydrated, and don’t forget to incorporate regular dentist’ visits into your routine.

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