How to Prevent Your Dentures from Smelling Bad

Dentures are often an excellent solution for extensive tooth loss, but they are not without their drawbacks. If you don’t take proper care of your prosthesis, it may develop an unpleasant odor over time, thus leaving you with bad breath. To prevent this embarrassing issue, it’s important to understand what causes bad-smelling dentures and the steps you can take to avoid the problem.   

Why Do Dentures Sometimes Start to Smell Bad?

The material used to make your dentures contains many tiny pores and grooves where bacteria and food particles can become trapped. When these bacteria feed on the sugar in the foods you eat, they can produce a foul-smelling byproduct. As a result, your dentures will start to develop an unpleasant smell.

How Can You Avoid Foul-Smelling Dentures?

There are a few simple steps you can take that can go a long way toward preventing your dentures from developing a bad smell:

• Rinse Your Dentures Off After Eating: After a meal or snack, there might still be some food particles lingering on your dentures. To get rid of them, you should gently rinse your dentures off in lukewarm water.
• Brush Your Dentures Regularly: You should get in the habit of brushing your dentures at least once or twice a day. Do not use toothpaste, as it could end up damaging the prosthesis; instead, use a non-abrasive cleaning agent such as dish soap. Be sure to rinse your dentures thoroughly before you wear them again.
• Avoid Dry Mouth: A dry mouth is an environment where the bacteria responsible for causing unpleasant odors can easily thrive. To avoid developing a dry mouth, you should make a point of drinking plenty of water while limiting your exposure to caffeine or alcohol.
• Clean Your Gums: Not only can bacteria build up on your dentures, but they can also accumulate on your gums. Whenever you take your dentures out, you should take the time to brush your gums. This will go a long way toward reducing the bacterial buildup that results in bad breath.    
• Visit Your Dentist: Even if you’ve replaced all of your teeth with dentures, you should still see your dentist every six months. They’ll check your dentures to make sure they’re still in good condition before giving them a thorough cleaning.

A bad-smelling denture is not an issue that anyone wants to have, but luckily, it’s possible to avoid the problem as long as you’re proactive about giving your prosthesis the care it needs.

About the Author

Dr. William J. Twohig is a dentist with well over four decades of experience. His holistic approach to dentistry focuses on protecting the patient’s whole-body health as opposed to just their oral health. He provides multiple options for replacing missing teeth, which include high-quality dentures made out of natural-looking materials. If you are thinking of getting dentures to rebuild your smile, you can schedule an appointment with Dr. Twohig at his practice in Weyauwega by visiting his website or calling (920) 867-3101.