Introduction:
Dentures are made to restore the aesthetics and function of your smile, allowing you to eat and speak normally. Since your face and mouth muscles will need to adapt to the new dental appliance(s) in your mouth, chewing with dentures does involve a little learning curve. When done correctly, figuring out how to eat with dentures may be a rewarding experience that gets you back to devouring your favorite meals.
Can You Eat Anything With Dentures?
You should be able to eat most, if not all, of your favorite meals because your dentures are made to operate similarly to teeth. However, eating foods with a stiffer texture may be challenging while your body adjusts to the sensation of wearing dentures on your gums.
Find softer meals that will be simpler to eat while you’re still becoming used to eating with the dentures, such as:
- Soup
- Scrambled eggs
- Yogurt or cottage cheese
- Oatmeal
- Potatoes
- Rice or pasta
- Applesauce
- Poached, broiled, stewed, or canned fish or chicken
Tips for Eating with Dentures
Mechanically, eating with dentures in place is not similar to eating with natural teeth. It will take some time to become used to how your dentures feel and press on your mouth as you chew. Eating with dentures requires you to bite with both ends of your mouth simultaneously, which is the only significant difference between eating with dentures and natural teeth over the long term. Most people favor one side of their natural teeth when chewing, but this might cause your dentures to become loose.
Advice for First-Time Denture Wearers on Eating
- Breathe easily! Start with soft foods that require less effort to consume. As your mouth adjusts, there may be some tenderness and soreness; thus, be nice to yourself and begin slowly and softly.
- Before you eat, check the temperature of your food between your lips. Due to the material’s insulating properties, dentures may alter how you feel the temperature.
- Take smaller bits of food or cut them into smaller pieces. It will assist you in understanding the basics of chewing while wearing dentures.
- It’s typical for things to taste different from one another. After you first get dentures, your mind is processing new signals and feelings from the “foreign object” in your mouth, which may impact how it interprets more common signals and senses like taste. Your flavor will return as your body adjusts to the dentures.
- Steer clear of hot food. You might notice that your gums start to feel tender or inflamed at the beginning of your adjustment phase. (This is expected!) Skip the salsa until you acclimate because spicy food will aggravate those areas further.
- For the best comfort, make sure you’re using the appropriate adhesive. And before changing brands, be sure to consult your dentist.
- You prevent further irritation or illness, make sure to thoroughly and frequently cleanse your mouth and dentures. If you need advice on cleaning dentures, look at our site!