When you’re missing teeth, it can be difficult to complete everyday tasks, like eating, speaking clearly, and smiling with confidence. Fortunately, there are a variety of tooth replacement options out there, like dentures, that can help to restore some of the functions you have lost. However, have you thought about how opting for dentures may affect the way you taste things? Continue reading to learn more.
How Can Dentures Affect Taste?
A denture that covers the upper palate is more likely to result in a loss of taste because the palate plays a role in both taste and smell. However, not everyone is significantly impacted by dentures that cover the palate. When dentures aren’t cleaned properly, residue can build up and cause a bad taste that can interfere with the taste of different foods. This is a more significant problem with cheaper dentures that are made from low-quality materials that can become dirty and stained more easily.
How Does Aging Affect Taste?
Unfortunately, as we age, our sense of taste lessens. In fact, your sense of taste can be cut in half for certain flavors while others aren’t affected at all. Because they are better able to taste salty and sweet flavors, many older adults enjoy foods that contain more salt and sugar. Loss of smell over time can also contribute to this loss of taste.
How Does Lost of Taste Impact Nutrition?
When food isn’t tasting good to someone anymore, they may be opting for the bare minimum to get by. This can cause a loss of interest in cooking, higher consumption of sweet and salty foods, and higher consumption of fat. Ultimately, this can impact the health of the entire body. Poor nutrition can contribute to diabetes and poor cardiovascular health. Negative changes in eating habits can increase the risk of many chronic diseases.
How to Prevent Taste Loss with Dentures?
Dentures don’t have to take the joy out of eating your favorite foods. You can significantly reduce the impact that dentures have on your taste by doing the following:
- Cleaning your dentures properly
- Minimize the use of denture cream with dentures that fit properly.
- Consider dentures supported by dental implants. This type of denture doesn’t cover the upper palate.
Fortunately, when you invest in quality dentures and care for them properly, you can continue to enjoy many of the flavors that you always have.
About the Author
Dr. Andrew Aziz is an experienced dentist who has been working in the field for more than a decade. He earned his dental; doctorate from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry and is passionate about continuing education to keep his knowledge and skills sharp. He regularly attends advanced training for many different specialties, including cosmetic dentistry, oral surgery, and endodontics. To learn more about dentures or to schedule an appointment at his office in Frederick, visit his website or call (301) 698-9552.