When you get new dentures, it’s essential to adjust your diet to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable eating experience. While having dentures allows you to regain your smile and enjoy your favourite foods, there are some limitations to consider. Let’s explore what foods you can eat and what foods are off limits with dentures to help you maintain optimal dental hygiene while keeping your dentures intact.
Eating Right with Dentures
If you’re thinking about getting dentures, remember that eating the appropriate foods and avoiding the rest will help reduce dental pain and sensitivity. Here’s a quick list of what you can eat after getting new dentures:
- Soft Foods
After getting new dentures, opt for soft foods like mashed potatoes, yogurt, pudding, and scrambled eggs. These foods are gentle on your dentures and provide essential nutrients for your well-being.
- Cooked Vegetables
While vegetables may be hard and crunchy in their raw state, boiling, steaming, or microwaving them transforms them into a softer consistency. The extensive and diverse array of vegetable options ensures you’ll always find a suitable choice to enjoy with your dentures.
- Nut-Free Spreads
If you’re looking for an alternative to peanut butter, consider trying hummus, appreciated for its unique blend of sweet and salty notes, along with its rich protein content. Crafted from chickpeas, this spread and dip boasts a mild taste that complements various seasonings. Alternatively, explore cream cheese as a sweeter substitute for nut butter.
- Chocolate
For denture wearers with a sweet tooth, chocolate remains a delightful treat, as long as you steer clear of candy bars containing nuts, toffee, or other potential denture challenges. Treat yourself to a delectable bar of European chocolate or savour a few artisanal chocolates.
- Fruits
Many fruits naturally tend to become soft when ripe and ready to eat. Whether you enjoy oranges, tomatoes, peaches, bananas, or mangos, you can eat most fruits while wearing dentures. For an additional delicious treat, combine frozen yoghurt or ice cream with fruits to create a smoothie.
What to Avoid with Dentures
Eventually, you’ll be able to enjoy most of your typical diet. Just be sure to use both sides of your mouth to chew evenly and properly. Certain foods are still off limits when wearing dentures, though. Some of the things you can’t eat with dentures:
- Tough Meats
Foods that require multiple bites to become tender cause undue stress to the gums and dentures. Avoiding foods like steak, ribs, and pork chops for the time being will also prevent uncomfortable patches from developing where the gums and dentures meet due to excessive chewing and grinding.
- Hard and Crunchy Foods
Avoid hard candies, nuts, and popcorn, as they pose a risk to your dentures. The hardness can lead to breakage or dislodgment, compromising the functionality of your dental appliance.
- Sticky and Chewy Foods
Taffy, caramel, and gum adhere to dentures, causing discomfort and potential damage. Eliminate these sticky treats from your diet to maintain the comfort and integrity of your dentures.
- Acidic and Sugary Foods
Despite having dentures, acidic and sugary foods can contribute to dental issues. Limit your intake of soda, citrus fruits, and candies to prevent tooth decay and gum problems.
- Carbonated Beverages
Carbonated drinks can create discomfort by causing gas buildup under dentures, potentially leading to instability. Minimize or avoid these beverages to ensure a snug fit and prevent any unpleasant sensations.
Eating Tips with Dentures
First-time denture wearers may find eating challenging and distressing. Here are some pointers how to eat with dentures.
- Start Slowly
For the first few days, it’s a good idea to follow a liquid diet consisting of foods like soup, apple sauce, pudding, oats, and so forth. Before switching to solid meals, let your delicate gums a few days to become used to the dentures. This will help you avoid discomfort and potential gum damage.
- Chew Carefully
Many individuals chew more on one side of their mouth than the other, yet doing so may make it more likely for the denture to come loose. When you start eating solid food again, make sure to chew on both sides of your mouth evenly and slowly. You’ll eventually do this on your own, which will contribute to the dentures’ increased stability.
- Take Caution when Consuming Hot Liquids
You should exercise extra caution while consuming hot liquids immediately after obtaining your dentures. Anything that is overheated may go unnoticed until it is too late due to its insulating qualities. To make sure a hot beverage is safe to consume, take a tiny sip of it first.
- Cut Food into Smaller Portions
While your gums are still adjusting to your new dentures, cutting your meal into smaller pieces will help with chewing and reduce some of the pressure on them.
- Steer Clear of Hard Meals
Because some meals, like red meat, can be quite difficult to chew when wearing dentures, always make sure that the food you eat has either been stewed or slowly cooked over a few hours.
- Handle Sticky Foods with Caution
Gum, chocolates, peanut butter, and various berries are examples of sticky foods that can easily become lodged between your gums and dentures, increasing the risk of pain and infection. Savour them, but make sure you clean your dentures and mouth well afterward.
- It’s Common to Experience Some Soreness
Even if you proceed cautiously, you’re still asking a lot of your body as it adjusts to your new dentures, so be prepared for some soreness in your jaw and gums during the procedure. If you notice a particularly sore region on your gums or if the pain gets worse, make sure to contact your dentist right immediately so they can adjust your dentures.
Maintaining Denture Hygiene
Taking care of your dentures is crucial to ensure they remain in good condition and last for years. Here are some essential tips:
- Clean your dentures daily with a denture brush and non-abrasive denture cleanser to remove food particles and plaque.
- Brush your gums, tongue, and palate with a soft-bristle toothbrush to prevent plaque buildup and maintain overall dental hygiene in Toronto.
- Remove your dentures at night to give your mouth a break and soak them in a denture solution.
- Handle your dentures with care to avoid dropping or damaging them.
- Schedule regular check-ups with your dentist to ensure your dentures fit correctly and address any issues promptly.
Adjusting your diet when you get new dentures is essential for maintaining both your oral health and overall comfort. While eating with dentures for the first time can be tricky, it is possible to enjoy your meals without compromising your dentures with these tips.
For professional dental hygiene in Toronto, contact Bloor West Dentistry at (416) 763-1283. Our experienced team is here to provide expert care and advice to ensure your dentures and oral health are in the best possible condition.
