Taste is an important sense that helps people tell if food is safe to eat while also making eating more pleasurable. The loss of this sense can diminish the joy of eating as well as leave a person less motivated to eat nutritious meals. The sense of taste dulls with age, and dentures can sometimes make it more difficult to enjoy food. Here’s why you might not taste food as well while wearing dentures and how you can make sure you are getting the most pleasure out of your meals.
How Does My Sense of Taste Change with Age?
The sense of taste is stronger in younger people, but the way it diminishes with age is quite uneven. For example, your ability to taste some flavors may have only decreased by half while others have fallen to an eighth of their original strength. On the other hand, your ability to taste some flavors may not diminish at all.
How Can Dentures Impact My Sense of Taste?
The human palate plays a large role in the senses of taste and smell, and upper dentures with bases that cover this part of the mouth can reduce a patient’s perception of taste. However, some people rely more on their palate to taste than others, so some patients do not have this problem.
However, if a set of dentures is not cleaned properly, the buildup of plaque and food debris can cause a bad taste or make it harder to taste certain foods. Low-quality dentures are worse about this since they are made from porous materials that can shelter more bacteria and food residue.
How Can I Taste Food Properly with Dentures?
Luckily, there are measures you can take to reduce the impact your dentures have on your sense of taste. A few of these include:
- Practicing proper daily denture hygiene, including regular rinsing, cleaning, and soaking
- See your dentist regularly to keep your dentures fitting well. This will minimize your need for denture adhesives
- Consult with your dentist about receiving implant dentures, which don’t have plates that cover the upper palate.
Dentures are meant to be a long-term tooth loss solution that greatly improves your quality of life. By taking proper care of your dentures, you can maximize your enjoyment of them.
About the Author
Dr. Justin Geller earned his dental degree from the University of Detroit and has since committed himself to the pursuit of continuing education. He is proud to be a member of the Motor City Study Club and the International Team for Implantology. His office in Novi, MI offers general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as denture services. To learn more about proper denture care, contact his office online or dial (248) 926-4030.