Taste Bud Troubles: How Dentures Might Put Your Meals on Mute

If you’ve recently started wearing dentures and wondered why your food tastes a little “off,” it’s not just you. Some denture wearers, especially those with full prosthetics, experience a noticeable change in how flavors come through. But is it all in your head, or is something actually happening to your sense of taste? Continue reading to learn how dentures may alter taste and what you can do about it.

How Taste Works

To understand how dentures might interfere with the flavor of your food, it helps to know how taste works.

Your tongue contains thousands of taste buds, each helping detect sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami flavors. But your tongue’s not the only place in your mouth with these kinds of receptors! Your cheeks, the roof of your mouth, and even your nasal passages all contribute to the full food experience.

How Dentures Affect Taste

So, if anything were to get in the way of these sensors your mouth uses to “interpret” your food, it can affect how things taste.

As it so happens, traditional upper dentures cover the roof of your mouth (hard palate), which contains nerve endings that help sense texture and temperature. While your tongue’s taste buds do most of the flavor work, your palate also plays a part.

When the area is covered, especially with a thick denture, it may mute some flavor or change your eating experience.

Other Factors That Affect Taste

Though it’s tempting to blame your loss of taste entirely on your dentures, they aren’t the only potential culprit. Poor oral hygiene, gum infections, or even necessary medications may also dull your sense of flavor.

Smoking, dry mouth, and age can further complicate things. So, while dentures can certainly contribute to weakened taste, they’re usually just one part of the bigger picture!

What Can You Do to Improve Taste with Dentures?

If your meals aren’t as flavorful as they used to be, don’t worry. There are several ways to help you find joy in chowing down again, such as:

• Ensuring a Proper Fit: Ill-fitting dentures are the number one issue behind taste changes. To keep them snug, make sure you see your dentist at least twice a year for adjustments.
• Practicing Good Hygiene: Clean your dentures daily and brush your gums and tongue to kill bacteria that can cause bad tastes in your mouth.
• Staying Hydrated: A dry mouth can reduce saliva, which helps carry flavor to your taste buds. So, sip water with every meal and throughout the day.
• Considering Implant Dentures: The design of implanted dentures often exposes more of your palate, which can improve taste compared to traditional models.

While dentures may slightly change the way you experience flavor, most people adjust with time. If you’re still struggling, your dentist can help. With the right fit, care, and guidance, you can get back to enjoying your favorite meals with full confidence!

About the Author

If you need a passionate dentist who can walk you through the ins and outs of dentures, Dr. Mark Gaches fits the description. He earned his dental doctorate from the University of Southern California and never stopped learning. Today, he’s one of only six percent of dentists with a Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry. Call (918) 928-2383 to schedule a denture consultation at Infinite Smiles Dentistry or visit our website to learn more about our services.