The soft diet eliminates foods that are difficult to chew and swallow. It can help you if you suffer from a sore throat, difficulty swallowing or chewing due to dental problems, such as poor fitting dentures or no teeth. The soft diet that is useful for dental problems is also known as a mechanical soft diet because foods are chopped or blended to make them softer. A mechanical soft diet differs from the soft diet used for stomach problems, which also limits fat, fiber and spices.
Considerations
The mechanical soft diet may vary depending on your particular chewing and swallowing difficulties. Foods may be softened by cooking, blending and mashing. A well planned soft diet for dental problems meets the National Research Council's Recommended Dietary Allowance, or RDA, for all nutrients, according to Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology. If you are physically unable to eat enough food due to pain or discomfort, your physician or registered dietitian can recommend liquid nutritional supplements for use between meals.
Foods to Include
If you have mouth sores, tender gums or missing teeth, soft foods such as milkshakes, yogurt, mashed potatoes, applesauce, cooked cereal, scrambled eggs, noodles, nectars, macaroni and cheese, cottage cheese, pudding and custard can help you meet your nutritional needs. You may find it easier to eat small amounts, several times a day, rather than three meals a day. Mixing foods with broth or thin gravy may help you chew and swallow more comfortably.
Irritants
Juices such as orange, grapefruit or tomato juice may irritate your mouth. If you need a soft diet for dental problems, you should also avoid alcoholic beverages and carbonated beverages. Hot foods may also aggravate a sore mouth as stated in National Caregivers Library. Foods that are cold or at room temperature may be better tolerated.
Foods to Avoid
A soft diet for dental problems requires you to eliminate raw fruits and vegetables as well as dried fruits and other foods that are sticky, tough or chewy. Foods that may leave irritating crumbs in your mouth such as potato chips, popcorn, crackers, nuts, seeds, fried foods and spicy foods should also be avoided.
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