Dentures and Bad Breath

Although food-borne protein residues can remain permanently on the back of the tongue, they cannot remain on dentures for long. In other words, the residence time of the proteins that adhere to the denture during feeding is limited. For this reason, it is difficult for bacteria to form bad-smelling gases that will cause bad breath by meeting with proteins on regularly cleaned dentures.

Denture Breath

Proteins usually settle on the back of the tongue. Because that’s where they stay permanently due to the indentation of that area. However, rather than food residues, bacteria settle on dental prostheses. Therefore, dental prostheses are a holding surface for bacteria, and a dirty dental prosthesis is a suitable environment for bacteria to reside.

Those who use dental prostheses should remove these prostheses from their mouths while they are sleeping at night. They should clean them regularly, like the mouth. Then, patients should leave in water or denture cleanser (eg, ADA-approved; Efferdent Denture Cleanser series (Overnight Whitening and Complete Clean), Fresh ‘N Brite Denture Cleaning Paste, or Dr. B Dental Solutions Cleanadent Cleansing Wipes)  until the next use. If they do so, dentures will not cause bad breath.

Smelling Crown and Caps

In particular, the lower part of the dental bridge and dental veneer bodies can cause bad breath. These places are some of the most suitable places for bacteria to grow.  Accordingly, the lower part of the dental bridge bodies and dental crowns should be open, not closed.

Non-Slippery Surface

If a patient with a dental prosthesis, bridge, or coating has bad breath, it will be very useful to polish their surfaces and lubricate them. Bacteria can hardly hold onto slippery surfaces. If hygiene is not maintained in both fixed and removable dentures, plaque and tartar buildup can occur. In these cases, dentures can cause bad breath.