Recompleting your smile with dentures can significantly improve your quality of life. That said, it’s important to remember that while dentures remain in your mouth, bacteria and bits of food can start to build up on them. As such, if you don’t take good care of them, they could start to develop a less-than-pleasant odor. Fortunately, your dentist is here with 4 tips for avoiding bad-smelling dentures.

1. Practice Proper Denture Hygiene

To keep your dentures as clean and odor-free as possible, you should always take the opportunity to rinse them off whenever you finish eating. It’s also important to brush them on a daily basis; be sure to use a soft-bristled toothbrush so that you don’t damage the material.

When you take your dentures out at night, always leave them soaking in a denture-cleaning solution. Not only will this help get rid of the bacteria that can cause unpleasant odors, but it will ensure that your dentures remain moist even while you’re not wearing them, allowing them to keep their proper shape.

2. Take Steps to Fight Against Dry Mouth

If you’re suffering from dry mouth, the lack of cleansing saliva can give oral bacteria the opportunity to thrive, which can contribute to bad-smelling dentures. To help keep dry mouth at bay, make sure that you’re drinking plenty of water; your mouth will have an easier time producing enough saliva if you keep yourself hydrated.

Sometimes certain medications can lead to dry mouth. Check any medications that you’re using to see if they have this side effect. If they do, it may be worth talking to your doctor to see if alternative medication is available.

3. Keep Your Mouth Clean

Maintaining a clean mouth will go a long way toward helping you avoid unpleasant-smelling dentures (not to mention bad breath in general). Whenever you remove your dentures, take the opportunity to gently brush your gums, your tongue, and the inside of your cheeks. This will help you remove any plaque or bacteria that have built up throughout the day.

4. Visit Your Dentist Regularly

Even if you take excellent care of your dentures, you should still visit your dentist every six months. They can take a look at your prosthesis to make sure that it still fits correctly; this is important because ill-fitting dentures can easily allow odor-causing bacteria to build up underneath them. On top of that, your dentist can check for oral health issues that can contribute to bad breath – such as gum disease – and treat them appropriately.

About the Author

Dr. Sharon Schrott is a skilled prosthodontist who is trained to meet a wide variety of dental needs. She completed her master’s degree in Prosthodontics at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in Boston. She’s happy to provide fully personalized dentures so that her patients can reclaim complete smiles. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Schrott at Kraft & Schrott Dental Associates in Boston, visit her website or call (617) 227-4924.