Useful Tips for Eating with Dentures
Dr. B. Kanagasabapathy
[M.D.S. (Ortho), Fellow ICOI]
Dentures are appliances designed by humans to restore missing teeth, which are also known as ‘false teeth’. These dentures are made up of plastic and shaped through the molding method so that it easily fits in your mouth. The secretion of saliva will be more during this period, and also sore spots may occur while the mouth is healing.
It takes days to adjust your life with dentures. Especially, chewing and speech will be affected after wearing dentures. Don’t worry! By following some eating tips, you can easily overcome this problem quickly.
Tips to eat with dentures
Initially, it may be difficult to eat with dentures. But, these few tips can help you to overcome this problem.
Avoid hot foods at the starting
You have to watch the temperature of the food before eating. Oral tissues are experts at determining the food’s temperature when eating.
The materials that are used in making removable dentures are basically insulating in nature. They can’t identify the hotness of the food. It is better to avoid hot foods in the beginning itself to prevent thermal trauma.
Begin with soft foods
Flexible dentures are a bit hard when compared to our oral tissues. Like new shoes, dentures can irritate you anywhere. To prevent too much gum injury, it is better to eat soft foods at the starting before going to harder foods with adjustable partial dentures.
Avoid spicy foods until you get comfortable
When practicing to eat with dentures, it is not unusual for people to encounter mild damage to their gums. Eating spicy and hot foods will worsen their discomfort, and hence, it should be avoided.
Chew slowly on both sides
In order to chew properly, your dentures should be in a stable position. By chewing the food covering both the sides, it will provide proper stability to your dentures. It is also important to chew slowly.
Do not hold the liquid in your mouth
Your gums, neighboring teeth, and the bone beneath are the supporting agents of your gums. They work together to offer retention to the dentures. In case if you hold any liquid in your mouth with adjustable partial dentures, it will loosen them easily.
Take little bites
While you start learning to eat with dentures, always take small bites rather than taking larger ones to chew easily.
Avoid gummy and sticky foods
Gummy and sticky foods can raise the denture off from your gums, making it hard to chew. Therefore, it is better to avoid gummy or sticky foods like pizza, candy, toffees, marshmallows, and raisins, etc.
When start learning to grind with dentures, your dentist may recommend an adhesive to use it with dentures for the purpose of retention and stability.
It takes a few weeks or days to get comfortable with eating along with adjustable partial dentures. Each day following baby steps will help you get entirely comfortable with eating. When you eat with them comfortably you can eat whatever you want.
If you have trouble eating with adjustable partial dentures, call us or book an appointment with us.
