Eating while wearing dentures is certainly different from normal eating. Chewing on one side of the mouth can loosen the dentures and cause them to fall out. Foods with certain textures can break or break dentures. So, be patient and take a few weeks to get used to the dentures. You may need to avoid some foods, but learning a few food preparation tricks will allow you to enjoy the foods you love.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Adjusting to Dentures
Step 1. Chew food on both sides of the mouth
Food should be chewed on the back or the front corner of the mouth. Chew food slowly on both sides at the same time. Thus, the dentures will not move and even out the chewing pressure in the mouth.
Step 2. Try not to chew with your front teeth
If you want to bite down on food with your front teeth, there's a good chance that your dentures will fall out. So, you should bite the food using the side teeth and use the tongue to bring the food to the back of the mouth. Chew thoroughly and slowly before swallowing.
Step 3. Soften dentures with a liquid diet
For people who have never worn dentures, it may be difficult to eat solid foods. Drink nutrient-dense fluids such as fruit and vegetable juices or milk (animal or vegetable), then increase them with liquid fruits and vegetables, such as applesauce or compote. Other options include:
- Honey sweetened tea or coffee
- Soup, broth, or soto without other chunks of food.
Step 4. Switch to soft foods
Reduce or crush solids before eating, if needed. In addition to foods that can be eaten in a liquid diet, you can also eat:
- Soft cheeses, eggs, mashed potatoes, ground beef, cooked legumes
- Soft fruit, cooked rice and pasta
- Milk or water softened breads and cereals
Part 2 of 3: Enjoying the Food You Like
Step 1. Use denture adhesive
This adhesive protects the dentures from food particles so they don't slip between the teeth and gums. Make sure your dentures are clean and dry. Then, squeeze the adhesive in short strips on the side facing the mouth. Try not to get the adhesive too close to the edges so it doesn't seep. Use a little at first, and add gradually if needed.
- This is especially important for lower dentures, which the tongue can loosen. Ask your dentist for specific recommendations based on your diet.
- Rinse and brush your dentures every night to remove food debris and plaque, then place them in warm water or a special solution for dentures when not in use to prevent them from bending.
Step 2. Cut the food into small pieces
Slice a raw apple or carrot into an easy-to-eat size instead of biting it straight away. Separate the corn kernels from the cob with a knife. Trim edges on pizza and onion bread. Once you've learned how to eat food safely, you don't need to stop eating it.
Step 3. Steam the vegetables
This will preserve the flavor of the vegetables while giving them a softer but crunchy texture. Pour water into a large saucepan to a height of 2.5 cm, then boil over high heat. Place the steamer basket in the pot over the water and add the fresh vegetables. Cover the pot and let the vegetables soften for about 10 minutes.
Part 3 of 3: Avoiding Certain Foods
Step 1. Stop consuming solid foods
Dentures can break easily if they are subjected to excessive pressure. Stay away from foods that have to be chewed hard. Examples of such foods are nuts and granola bars.
You can replace nuts with olives, which are also a great source of healthy fats
Step 2. Stay away from sticky foods
These foods can get stuck and stick between the dentures and the gums. Food can also clog dentures and cause pain and discomfort. Stay away from chewing gum, chocolate, caramel, and peanut butter.
Hummus can replace peanut butter. This material is spreadable and contains protein without a sticky texture
Step 3. Do not eat food with small particles
Fruits with seeds can get stuck in dentures and gums. Avoid strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and seed grapes. It's also a good idea to stay away from baked goods with seeds on the crust. Examples of such foods are peanut muffins, sesame bread, and kaiser rolls.
Replace the drupe with blueberries or seedless grapes. If you must eat grain foods, choose breads, pillows, muffins, etc. that have the seeds baked in the bread or have been ground
Tips
- Remove your dentures every night so your gums can heal.
- Ask your dentist to help measure your dentures to make sure they are comfortable to wear.
- If you have dentures on your upper teeth, your taste buds will change somewhat at first. However, this condition should not be permanent because most of the sense of taste is on the tongue. See a doctor if your taste buds don't recover after a few weeks
- You can also use denture cream instead of adhesive. Ask for a recommendation from a doctor.
Warning
- Try to avoid solid food on the first day of wearing dentures. If you chew incorrectly, your dentures can break.
- If you try to eat solid food before you get used to your dentures, you could choke on food that hasn't been chewed properly.
- Do not use whitening sheets on dentures.
