How to Stop the Dreaded Dentures and Bad Breath Problem

It’s happened to us all. You are at a meeting or social event having a great time, you say goodbye to your friends, colleagues, or significant other, get into your car, and check your teeth. You sigh in relief that there’s nothing stuck in your dentures, but then, you check your breath. You suddenly realize it’s not that fresh.

In order to solve the bad breath, you must first understand the underlying cause of it. Your mouth produces bacteria and debris that accumulates on natural teeth. These bacteria produce unpredictable sulfur compounds responsible for causing bad breath. If you wear a partial or full set of false teeth, the bacteria still is produced and finds its way onto the denture, creating halitosis (the fancy word for bad breath).

Here are 5 ways to avoid the dreaded dentures and bad breath problem:

1. Drink lots of water.
   You hear this from everyone: Your general practitioner, your personal trainer, your nutritionist. Lo and behold, they are right. Not only does water keep your gut in alignment and your muscles refueled, but it also helps keep bad breath at bay. The Mayo Clinic says keeping your mouth moist with water helps wash away food particles and bacteria.
2. Clean your dentures better.
   Denture-related breath odor can directly be attributed to how you are cleaning them, says the Center for Anti-Aging. A quick brush plus a five-minute soak does not equal sufficient denture care. While it does take more time and planning, brushing and then doing an overnight soaking can kill 99.9% of denture germs. For an overnight soak, you can go to any local pharmacy and find many options, from all-natural soaking solutions to high-end ultrasonic devices. Unfortunately, for those on-the-go or who are uncomfortable taking dentures out at night, there is no quick solution quite as effective as an overnight soak for clean dentures and fresher breath.
3. Review your prescriptions.
   Certain medications can cause xerostomia, or dry mouth, which, as discussed, is another primary cause of bad breath. There are many problems you may have with your dentures if you do not have enough saliva. From difficulty chewing and swallowing to bad breath, inadequate lubrication is a problem. While you may not be able to avoid medications that have this side effect, talk to your physician about your denture use and see if there is an alternative medication they suggest.
4. Even more cleaning.
   In addition to cleaning your dentures with brushing and soaking, you should also be paying close attention to your gum line. The bacteria that coat the gums and tongue are another cause of bad breath. By brushing your gums, tongue, and roof of your mouth before you insert your dentures, you will stimulate the circulation in your tissues and help remove the plaque that builds up and causes bad breath.
5. Choose an alternative option.
   If bad breath has plagued you from the onset of your denture tenure no matter what you have tried, it may be time to throw in the towel. A more permanent option for replacing natural teeth is choosing dental implants. Because the implant becomes part of your jawbone, there is no extra time and work involved in removing, brushing, or soaking. Day-to-day dental hygiene is more similar to that for natural teeth: brush, floss, stay hydrated, and go.

To avoid future embarrassment and constant concerns about bad breath, consider dental implants. You will not only save time from a less intense cleaning schedule, but you will also save trips to the pharmacy and money spent on cleaners, soaks, and other breath aids.

The long-term solution to denture-related bad breath starts with implants. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Lee or Dr. DeFelice – our experienced, board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons here at Cumberland Surgical Arts.