Dentures offer people with dental problems an attractive alternative to root canals or the unsightly look of missing teeth. After you get your new dentures, you have to adjust your eating habits until you get used to the fit and feel of the false teeth. Follow your dentist's instructions to avoid damaging your dentures or injuring your mouth and gums.
Adjusting to Foods
Take some time to adjust to eating with your new dentures. Dr. Robert I. Schwartz, a dentist in New York, recommends starting out with soft foods that you cut into small pieces. Eat yogurt, ice cream, pudding, gelatin and other soft foods if you have difficulty adjusting to solid foods. Once you adjust to eating soft foods, introduce other foods to your diet until you have resumed your normal eating habits.
Meal Preparation
How you prepare your meals affects how easily you adjust to eating with dentures. If you usually eat raw vegetables, try steaming them to make them easier to chew. Use tender cuts of poultry and red meats and remove corn from the cob.
Foods to Avoid
Denture wearers do not need to eliminate many foods from their diets. However, Dr. Rory Smith, a dentist in Tyler, Texas, explains that some foods increase the risk of denture breakage because of the angle needed to bite into the hard surface. Avoid biting directly into hard pretzels, whole apples, large sandwiches and other hard, crunchy foods.
Problems
Some denture wearers experience problems in the first few days after they start wearing false teeth. Soreness and irritation occur as you get used to wearing your dentures, making it difficult to eat solid foods. You may have difficulty determining how hot and cold foods are, so use extra caution to avoid burning your mouth as you adjust to your new dentures. If your dentures feel loose or break while eating, contact your dentist immediately.
Tips
If you feel self-conscious about using your new dentures, use a small amount of denture adhesive to secure them. This will improve your confidence while eating foods such as corn on the cob, raw carrots and other foods that require a great deal of biting force. Denture adhesive also blocks food particles from getting between your gums and your dentures. Rinse your dentures after meals to wash away food particles and keep your breath smelling fresh.
