Eating With Dentures 101

The first thing we should go over when talking about eating with dentures is the different types of dentures. This is important since advice on this topic can vary depending on the type of dentures the patient is wearing. 

Dentures can vary in type, as well as pricing, and there are both removable and non-removable ones. Regardless, they all serve the same purpose — to give you back your beautiful smile and restore its functionality. If you’re looking to get dentures, you can learn more here. 

Now, why is it that eating with dentures can pose such a problem? After all, most quality dentures look exactly like your natural teeth, if not better. Well, while they do look the same, they often don’t feel the same. Also, putting on dentures is a type of change that needs a bit of adjusting. Understandably, your facial muscles will need a bit of time to get used to your new teeth. It will be a bit of a hassle at first, but don’t worry — that’s why we’re here to give you some advice. 

Eating With Dentures for the First Time

Whether you’re still adjusting to your new pair of dentures, or you’ve only just gotten your first pair, eating with them may present a challenge. If you’re not too sure about what to do, that’s okay. Here are some helpful tips to help you jumpstart the dentures experience:

• Slow and easy — The first few times you try to eat while wearing your dentures will be the hardest. So, try to take it easy. That includes avoiding chewy, crunchy, and sticky foods. Try sticking to liquid foods instead for the time being.
• Be careful with hot beverages — Unlike your natural teeth, your dentures won’t be able to detect whether a beverage is hot or cold. That will result in a burnt tongue if you’re not careful enough. So, the best thing to do to combat this problem is to test out your drink by simply taking a small sip. Or, even better, you can test it out with your lips. If it passes the test, you’re good to go.
• Refrain from keeping liquids in your mouth — If you’re used to keeping liquids in your mouth for a bit, to get that extra taste, we’ve got some bad news. This type of habit can cause your dentures to loosen, which is not good, so refrain from doing it. 
• Stay away from sticky foods — Sticky foods can be problematic because they’re prone to get stuck between your dentures and your gums. That can lead to problems, such as irritation and infection. Now, you can still consume sticky foods from time to time. But, be sure to properly clean your dentures after doing so.
• Stay away from spicy foods — Spicy foods can also be a problem if you have sores or other types of irritation. You can still eat spicy foods on occasion, but before you do, you should always check your mouth for signs of sores or irritation. 
• Stay away from your tough foods — Foods that are hard to chew should be avoided if you’re still trying out your new dentures. Chewing these foods can be hard and can also cause discomfort.
• Chew evenly — Chewing food using only one side of your teeth is a habit many people are guilty of. However, it should be avoided if you have dentures since it will cause them to loosen and fall out of place. Try chewing slowly as well, doing so will guarantee stability for your dentures in the long run.
• Cut your food up into pieces — Eating smaller pieces of food will help you avoid putting pressure on your gums. Plus, it’s also way easier than struggling while trying to chew on the bigger pieces. 

Eating With Partial Dentures

Partial dentures are the ideal option for people who still have the majority of their natural teeth. They’re a great way to replace your missing teeth and restore your smile’s beauty and functionality. However, trying to eat with partial dentures might be a bit of a hassle at first. But, it’s nothing you can’t get the hang of, especially if you stick to the following advice.

• Keep up with dental hygiene — Maintaining oral hygiene when it comes to partial dentures is extremely important. You can eat many different types of food if you make sure to clean your dentures both beforehand and afterward. That is because foods tend to get stuck between the dentures. Just brushing them properly after taking them out should do the trick. Skipping this important step can lead to infection, inflammation, and even tooth deterioration. 
• Foods you shouldn’t eat — Your artificial teeth may look the part, but they won’t always perform their job as well as your natural teeth. That’s okay, but it does come with certain problems. Those problems mainly relate to determining which foods you can and cannot eat. As we’ve mentioned in the previous section, sticky, spicy, and tough foods should generally be avoided. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t consume them under certain conditions. Here’s the trick — you can soften your tough foods, and you can eat sticky foods if you make sure to thoroughly clean and adjust your dentures. 
• Foods you should eat — Now that we’ve gone over the foods you should avoid, it’s fitting to mention the ones you’re encouraged to eat. Softer foods are the ones to go with. They’re especially recommended while you’re still adjusting to your partial dentures. Now, that doesn’t mean you should stick to these foods forever. However, they’ll be noticeably easier to consume than chewy ones while you’re still getting used to your dentures.

A Short List of Foods to Avoid 

If you’re still a bit unsure of which foods you should stick to while adjusting to dentures, here’s a short list, just to be sure.

• Chewing gum
• Nuts and nut butter
• Sticky foods, such as candies and sweets
• Whole fresh fruits
• Tough red meat
• Bread with crust 
• Popcorn
• Corn on the cob