July 22, 2025

Find Out Why Dentures Can Have a Bad Odor

Full dentures

You’ve been wearing dentures for a while now, and you want to make sure they continue to function well and look their best. But one day, you suddenly realize there is a foul odor permeating your artificial teeth. What could it be? There are many reasons why these custom prosthetics might smell, which is why it’s important to find out the underlying cause and what you can do to prevent it in the first place.

The Reasons Why Dentures Can Start to Smell

Walking around with bad breath can be a major deterrent, especially if you’re near other people. Should you discover that your dentures are the cause for the foul odor, you may wonder what has happened to cause this type of problem.

There are several reasons why your dentures no longer smell good, including:

  • Poor oral hygiene and decreased focus on brushing your prosthetics.
  • Food and beverages have been left to accumulate on the dentures, resulting in a foul odor.
  • The dentures have not been given proper time to soak and remove harmful bacteria.

Ways to Avoid Foul Odors From the Start

To ensure that you continue to enjoy attending social gatherings, talking with your colleagues, and living life with healthy teeth, you’ll need to make sure that you do all you can to prevent bad breath from the start. You can do this by:

  • If you have partial dentures, you still need to take care of your remaining teeth and your oral health. Just because you have artificial teeth doesn’t mean that you can avoid regular brushing and flossing your teeth. You will need to brush and floss remaining teeth each day to prevent bacterial build-up.
  • Soaking your dentures overnight while you sleep, as this will help to clear away any bacteria that brushing cannot remove.
  • Keeping your regularly scheduled visits with your dentist to allow for a professional cleaning by a trusted dental professional. They possess specialized instruments that can eliminate any plaque and tartar to keep your dentures looking and feeling healthy year-round.
  • Drinking plenty of water, as this will help to keep you hydrated and encourage your salivary glands to work properly so that bacteria is flushed out throughout the day.

By keeping these helpful tips in mind, you will find that your dentures look, feel, and smell good day after day.

About the McCarl Dental Group
McCarl Dental Group understands that tooth loss can be a difficult reality for patients. This is why when we suggest dentures, we convey all the necessary details that come with wearing these custom prosthetics. One of the most pivotal components is how to properly take care of them. Our esteemed dentists will offer helpful tips to minimize bad breath and ensure that your dentures remain clean and healthy. Call our dental office to find out what you can do to be more proactive about denture aftercare.

Latest Blog Posts

Explore All Blogs
Cohort1

Welcome to McCarl Dental Group

Our story is uniquely intertwined with Greenbelt's history—we've grown alongside our community, building relationships that often span multiple generations within the same families. Today, our doctors and team carry forward this legacy while embracing the latest advances in dental technology and techniques.
Cohort1

POP: How Chewing Gum Can Benefit Your Oral Health

There are endless flavors and varieties of chewing gum on the market. Most are filled with sugar and are likely to only freshen your breath.
Cohort1

Is Tooth Sensitivity Worthy of an Emergency Dental Visit?

When sipping a cup of coffee or taking a bite of ice cream, do you experience a sudden or sharp pain inside your mouth? Is there a particular tooth that bears the brunt of this extreme discomfort?