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Eating with dentures isn't like eating with your regular teeth. Chewing on only one side of your mouth can loosen your dentures and cause them to slip. Foods with certain textures can break or dislodge them, so be patient and give yourself a few weeks to get adjusted to your dentures. Perhaps you'll have to avoid some foods, but learning some denture-friendly food preparation tricks will allow you to keep enjoying most of the foods you love.
Steps
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Chew on both sides of your mouth. The food should be in the back on both sides of your mouth or in the front corners. Chew slowly on both sides at the same time. This way, your dentures will more likely stay in place and will evenly distribute the chewing pressure. [1] X Research source
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Avoid chewing with your front teeth. If you try to bite food with your front teeth you risk displacing your dentures. Instead, bite the food using the side teeth and use your tongue to bring food to the back of your mouth. Chew thoroughly and slowly before you swallow. [2] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to sourceAdvertisement
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Break your dentures in with a liquid diet. For people who have never worn dentures before, it may be very difficult to eat any sort of solid food. Drink nutrient-dense liquids like juiced fruits and vegetables or milk (animal- or plant-based). Then, work your way up to puréed fruits and vegetables, such as applesauce or compote. [3] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source Other good choices include:
- Tea or coffee sweetened with honey
- Soups, broths, or bisques without chunks of other foods
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Transition to a soft diet. These foods are easy to chew and swallow. Cut or mash your food before eating, if necessary. [4] X Trustworthy Source National Health Service (UK) Public healthcare system of the UK Go to source In addition to the foods you could eat on your liquid diet, you can also eat:
- Soft cheese, eggs, mashed potatoes, ground meat, cooked legumes
- Soft fruits, boiled rice, and pasta
- Breads and cereals softened with milk or water
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Use denture adhesive. Denture adhesive protects against food particles getting stuck between your dentures and gums. [5] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Make sure your denture is clean and dry, then squeeze the adhesive in short strips into the dentures beds. To prevent the adhesive from oozing out of your dentures, avoid getting the adhesive close to the edges. Start with a small amount and gradually add more if you need it.
- This is especially necessary for your lower denture, which has less surface area contacting your mouth surfaces. Ask your dentist for specific recommendations based on dentures and your diet.
- Rinse and brush your dentures each night to remove food particles and plaque, and keep them in warm water or denture solution when you're not wearing them to keep them from warping. [6] X Research source Tu Anh Vu, DMD. Dentist. Personal interview. 7 May 2020.
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Cut tough foods into smaller pieces. For example, slice your apple or raw carrot into manageable pieces instead of biting into the whole thing. [7] X Research source Remove corn from the cob with a sharp knife. Tear the crust away from your pizza or garlic bread. If you adjust your eating technique for a particular food, you don't have to give up that food.
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Steam your vegetables. Raw vegetables can be hard to eat with dentures. [8] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Steaming them will maintain their flavor while giving them a softer, yet somewhat crispy, texture. Pour about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water into a large pot. Place it on a burner set to high and let it come to a rolling boil. Place a steaming basket into the pot above the water and add your fresh vegetables. Cover the pot and allow the veggies to soften for about 10 minutes. [9] X Research source
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Abstain from solid hard foods. Dentures can easily break if you put excessive pressure on them. Stay away from foods that require added force to chew them properly. Some of these foods include croutons, crispy granola bars, and nuts. [10] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
- You could substitute nuts with pitted olives, which are also a good source of healthy fats.
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Avoid sticky foods. They can get trapped and stick in between your dentures and gums. Sticky foods can also dislodge your dentures and cause pain and discomfort. [11] X Research source Steer clear of chewing gum, taffy, chocolate, caramel, and peanut butter.
- Hummus is a good alternative to peanut butter. It's spreadable and provides protein without the sticky texture.
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Don't eat foods with small particles. Fruits with seeds could easily get caught between your dentures and gums. Avoid strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and seeded grapes. You should also stay away from baked goods with seeds on the crust. This includes poppy seed muffins, sesame seed buns, and kaiser rolls. [12] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source
- Substitute seedy fruits with blueberries and seedless grapes. If you must have seedy baked goods, opt for breads, buns, muffins, etc. with baked-in seeds or grains that have been ground.
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionCan you use whitening strips on dentures?Dr. Tu Anh Vu is a Board Certified Dentist and Owner of Tu's Dental, her private practice, in Brooklyn, New York. With over six years of clinical experience, Dr. Vu helps adults and kids of all ages get over their anxiety with dental phobia. Dr. Vu has conducted research related to finding the cure for Kaposi Sarcoma cancer and has presented her research at the Hinman Meeting in Memphis. She received her undergraduate degree from Bryn Mawr College and a DMD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.No! Don't use whitening strips on your dentures. The strips won't make them whiter.
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QuestionIs it bad to leave dentures in all the time?Dr. Tu Anh Vu is a Board Certified Dentist and Owner of Tu's Dental, her private practice, in Brooklyn, New York. With over six years of clinical experience, Dr. Vu helps adults and kids of all ages get over their anxiety with dental phobia. Dr. Vu has conducted research related to finding the cure for Kaposi Sarcoma cancer and has presented her research at the Hinman Meeting in Memphis. She received her undergraduate degree from Bryn Mawr College and a DMD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.Yes! You need to take your dentures out at night so your gums have time to rest and heal. Otherwise, you might get sores.
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QuestionIf I have dentures, how can I take care of them?Dr. Tu Anh Vu is a Board Certified Dentist and Owner of Tu's Dental, her private practice, in Brooklyn, New York. With over six years of clinical experience, Dr. Vu helps adults and kids of all ages get over their anxiety with dental phobia. Dr. Vu has conducted research related to finding the cure for Kaposi Sarcoma cancer and has presented her research at the Hinman Meeting in Memphis. She received her undergraduate degree from Bryn Mawr College and a DMD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.Take them off every night to let your gums heal and recover, and rinse and brush your dentures each day, especially at night. When you're not wearing your dentures, keep them in lukewarm water or a denture solution to keep them from warping. Also, have your dentures professionally fitted to make sure they're comfortable.
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Tips
- Take your dentures out every night to let your gums heal and recover. [13] X Research source Tu Anh Vu, DMD. Dentist. Personal interview. 7 May 2020.Thanks
- To make sure your dentures are comfortable, have them fit by a professional. [14] X Research source Tu Anh Vu, DMD. Dentist. Personal interview. 7 May 2020.Thanks
- If you have a denture for the upper arch, you might notice an altered sense of taste in the beginning. However, this shouldn't be permanent, since most tastebuds are on your tongue. Talk to your dentist if your sense of taste doesn't improve after a few weeks.Thanks
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Warnings
- If you try to eat solid food before you are used to your dentures, you could swallow a piece of unchewed food and begin to choke.Thanks
- Avoid hard food on your first day of wearing dentures. You can very easily break them if you chew the wrong way.Thanks
- Do not use whitening strips with your dentures. [15] X Research source Tu Anh Vu, DMD. Dentist. Personal interview. 7 May 2020.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-teeth-and-mouth
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9319444/
- ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dentures/Pages/Introduction.aspx
- ↑ http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dentures/Pages/Introduction.aspx
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9319444/
- ↑ Tu Anh Vu, DMD. Dentist. Personal interview. 7 May 2020.
- ↑ https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/teeth-and-mouth/taking-care-your-teeth-and-mouth#dentures
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9319444/
- ↑ https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-steam-vegetables-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-108512
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9319444/
- ↑ https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-teeth-and-mouth
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3545413/
- ↑ Tu Anh Vu, DMD. Dentist. Personal interview. 7 May 2020.
- ↑ Tu Anh Vu, DMD. Dentist. Personal interview. 7 May 2020.
- ↑ Tu Anh Vu, DMD. Dentist. Personal interview. 7 May 2020.
About This Article
Article Summary
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Eating with dentures can feel awkward at first, but you can make it easier by working your way up to hard foods and avoiding foods that can break or displace your dentures When you first get your dentures, stick to a liquid diet and gradually transition to soft foods, like eggs, pasta, and boiled rice. As you work your way back to harder foods, focus on chewing on both sides of your mouth so your dentures are more likely to stay in place. Avoid chewing with your front teeth, which could displace your dentures. Instead, bite your food using your side teeth. While having dentures shouldn't alter your diet too much, there are certain foods that you should avoid, like nuts, caramel, toffee, gum, and berries with small seeds. To learn how to use denture adhesive, keep reading!
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Reader Success Stories
- "I had no pain with top dentures, but bottoms were a whole different story. Developed bone spurs one week out and had them removed. So tired of soft food and pain. This article helped give me patience, knowing that I'll adjust with time." ..." more
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"I had no pain with top dentures, but bottoms were a whole different story. Developed bone spurs one week out and had them removed. So tired of soft food and pain. This article helped give me patience, knowing that I'll adjust with time."
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"All of the articles gave me insight on wearing dentures and techniques one must use when eating such as: chewing on both sides of the mouth, not tearing food with front teeth, deviation from putting hot liquids and fluids in mouth."
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"I just started using my upper and lower dentures about 3 weeks ago and I was miserable! Thanks to this article, all of my questions have been answered, and I have made good progress due to all the great advice! Thank you to all."
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"It gave me an idea about the foods that I can and can't eat. Also gave me an idea about how I must eat food and drink liquids! Very helpful."
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"Chewing small pieces with both sides of back teeth at once was helpful, as was avoiding sweets, seeds, nuts, and sticky foods. "
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