5 Ways to Prevent Denture Breath

Getting dentures should restore your confidence and get you back to your smiling, social self. But, if you’re self-conscious about your breath, you might not want to put yourself out there again. Fortunately, you can easily combat denture breath with a little attention to maintenance and your oral hygiene routine. Here are 5 ways you can prevent denture breath.

Why Do Your Dentures Smell?

While there could be another underlying cause, surprisingly, the main cause of denture breath is actually the dentures themselves rather than your mouth. When you’re not properly cleaning them, bacteria accumulate on the surfaces and crevices of your dentures. 

Cleaning and brushing your dentures typically removes the smellier particles, but if you don’t do it thoroughly, the bacteria and debris remain and make your breath stink! 

5 Ways to Prevent Denture Breath

The fresher your breath, the brighter your smile! Here are 5 ways you can reduce or beat denture breath:

#1. Clean your dentures thoroughly every day.

Remove and rinse your dentures after eating and at the end of the day. When you take them off for the night, clean your mouth and gently brush your dentures with a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive denture cleaner. Soak your dentures overnight either in water or a denture-cleaning solution.

#2. Maintain a good oral hygiene routine.

Keeping your mouth clean is crucial to fight bad breath. Before putting them on in the morning and when you remove your dentures at night, use a soft-bristled toothbrush or gauze to clean your gums, tongue, and cheeks. If you have any remaining teeth, be sure to brush and floss twice a day. These cleaning techniques will stimulate circulation to the tissues in your mouth and remove plaque and bacteria that could cause bad breath.

#3. Reduce your risk for dry mouth.

Dry mouth is a common cause for bad breath whether you wear dentures or not. Saliva helps clean your mouth of the bacteria that cause your breath to stink. Drinking more water, cutting down on caffeine and alcohol, and eating fruits and vegetables with higher water content can help keep you hydrated and flush away food particles and bacteria.

#4. Get an ultrasonic cleaning kit.

A few minutes of submerging your dentures in an ultrasonic cleaning kit according to machine directions can go a long way in preventing denture breath. Controlled soundwaves create vibrations in a cleaning solution and remove bacteria that you may have missed with just brushing.

#5. Regularly visit your dentist.

If you’re still struggling with denture breath after these other methods, your dentist can see if there are any underlying reasons. Bad breath can also be caused by gum disease, cavities, tooth decay, long-term neglect of oral hygiene, and more.

Make sure you are still visiting your dentist every six months for routine checkups and cleanings. They will monitor your oral health for anything that might cause bad breath and treat them at the earliest sign, strengthening your smile for years to come.

About the Author

Dr. Steven Oshins goes the extra mile to ensure that every patient has a five-star dental experience. At Oshins of Smiles, he provides a comprehensive range of dental services to enhance and protect the smiles of Guilderland. Dr. Oshins’s practice is pleased to offer high-quality partial, full, and implant dentures to restore patient quality of life and confidence. If you want to learn more about how to stop denture breath, contact Dr. Oshins at his website or by phone at (518) 356-5635.