The biggest adjustment for many denture wearers involves what and how they eat. Are you wondering why? Well, the places around the dentures are the prime places for the food particles to get stuck. There is also a high chance of the dentures slipping out of place if you bite into hard food items.
Choosing the proper diet will maintain your dentures and also please your diet. This blog will discuss what to eat and when to eat when you have dentures. Going through the sections below can be beneficial if you are planning to get dentures or if you already have them.
Eating With Your New Dentures
Your gums need to get used to chewing and biting when your first get your dentures. Your gums can be sore for a few days due to the dental work that has been done to remove natural teeth. Some of the soft food items that you can eat to make your first few meals comfortable are:
- Applesauce
- Hot cereals
- Mashed vegetables or mashed potatoes
- Pudding
- Yogurt
- Gelatin dessert
- Juice
Transitioning To Solid Food Items
You can switch to solid food items once your mouth is used to the dentures after a few days. But make sure to cut them into small pieces so that they only require a little chewing. You can begin by including food items such as:
- Pasta
- Cooked rice
- Soft bread
- Soup containing soft veggies and soft meats
- Soft and skin-free fish
- Baked beans
- Cooked greens
Which Food Items To Avoid After Getting Dentures?
You’ll eventually be able to eat most of the food items that you like. Make sure to chew properly, using both sides of the mouth as evenly as possible. Even so, there are a few food items that you should avoid or consume within limits. They are:
- Sticky foods – Eating sticky food items can move your dentures out of place and allow the food particles to get underneath the dentures. This can irritate the gums and be the reason for severe problems in the days to come. Try to avoid foods such as gummy candies or peanut butter.
- Foods with small but stubborn pieces – Eating food items with pieces that your teeth cannot grind can be the reason for denture problems. For example, sesame seeds on rolls, shelled seeds or nuts, popcorn kernels, etc., can stick in or around your dentures.
- Tough meats – Foods that need to be chewed repeatedly to become tender can put unnecessary pressure on your dentures. Too much grinding and chewing can create sore spots where the gums and dentures meet. It is always advisable to avoid pork ribs, steak, and ribs if you want to prevent sores from developing.
- Hard food items – Eating hard food items involve your jaw and dentures applying uneven pressure. This can dislodge the dentures and even damage them. Try to stay away from popcorn, apples, nuts, carrot sticks, etc.
Which Food Items To Eat After Getting Dentures?
There are plenty of food items that you can enjoy even after getting dentures. Include these tasty options in your diet and avoid the chances of denture damage.
- Slow-cooked meats – Usually, the longer you cook the meat, the more tender it becomes. Intake of tender meat will not harm your dentures. So, having slow-cooked meats is okay after getting the dentures.
- Ground meat – Ground meats are easy to eat with dentures as the grinding makes them tender and removes much of their roughness.
- Chocolate – Candy lovers wearing dentures can fulfill their craving for sweets by eating chocolates. You can definitely indulge in handmade or European chocolates. As long as you are not eating candy bars containing toffee or nuts, you are good to go.
- Ripe fruits – Some fruits are naturally soft when they are ripe and perfect for eating. You can enjoy most fruits such as mangoes, bananas, peaches, oranges, or tomatoes with dentures.
- Well-cooked vegetables – The vegetables are usually very crunchy in their raw state. You need to have well-cooked vegetables, as boiling, microwaving, or steaming veggies give them a softer texture. Intake of vegetables is anyways good for your overall dental health.
Now that you know which food items to eat and which ones to avoid after getting dentures, the chances of facing problems will be less. Get in touch if your dentist if there is any further confusion related to this topic.
