Can you still kiss with false teeth?

Kissing may feel a little less natural once dentures are involved, but it doesn't mean it's any less pleasurable! — dpa

Whether we are 15 or 85, kissing makes us forget everything around us.

While there is no indication that making out is any less exciting in old age, it may feel a little less natural once dentures are involved.

Even late in life there can be a first time, e.g. the first time kissing someone with false teeth.

If you've just started to wear dentures, there might be a lot of questions on your mind: Is kissing now less joyous? Will the other person notice?

Can the "third" set of teeth fall out when the kissing gets too passionate?

Exactly how kissing changes when a denture is involved cannot be easily answered, according to Professor Dr Sebastian Hahnel, director of the Polyclinic for Dental Prosthetics at the university hospital in Germany's Regensburg.

"There is very little research on this in dentistry," the dentist concedes.

He believes that the switch from fixed to removable teeth may be noticeable when kissing.

"But I don't think that kissing changes significantly with age," he adds.

What's decisive is the type of denture.

Is it firmly attached to implants that are anchored in the jaw?

Or are they "thirds", meaning removable dentures that lie atop the oral mucosa?

"There is one study that was able to show that patients with implants have fewer inhibitions when it comes to kissing than those who have no implants, but instead, only purely mucosa-supported dentures," says Prof Hahnel.

One possible factor in this is that removable dentures are often more extensive, meaning they could have a bigger impact when kissing because it might feel less natural – for the opposite party as well.

"Let's put it this way: The more intimate a kiss is, the more that the partner feels with the tongue," he says.

"And so (the partner) naturally experiences the plastic of a denture differently than natural tissue."

As a rule, you shouldn't worry about the denture falling out during a kiss, he says.

But, if there is a kiss-mishap, then a bit of humour might help.

To simply be able to let loose while making out works best if the teeth and dentures are well cared for, because dentures can gather bits of food and bacteria during the course of the day, in turn, causing bad breath.

To avoid this, German dental hygiene group Pro Dente advises denture-wearers to thoroughly clean their denture twice a day with a special brush.

You shouldn't use toothpaste though, as this can create scratches in the denture.

Try mouthwash or a special care foam instead.

Rinse thoroughly afterwards, then let the kissing begin. – dpa