One of the most troubling consequences of tooth loss — partial or complete — is the inability to eat properly. Those dietary changes can have serious health impacts. The chance to restore the ability to eat naturally is one of the most common reasons that people choose to obtain dentures in Winnipeg.
When it comes to dentures, people struggling with tooth loss have at least two options: traditional partial or complete removable dentures; or implant-supported dentures. Implant-supported dentures make it easier to eat almost completely naturally because they are securely anchored to your jaw using modern titanium implants. Traditional dentures that are not supported by implants are highly effective solutions for tooth loss but do have the disadvantage of requiring some ongoing accommodations when it comes to diet — especially as you become accustomed to wearing and eating with your new dentures.
As you learn to live and eat with your new dentures, here’s some advice about the best and worst foods to eat with your dentures, and four general tips to keep in mind.
Good options for eating with dentures
When it comes to designing your menu and building your shopping list now that you’re wearing dentures, here are some things to keep in mind. Raw and unripe fruits and vegetables will pose challenges. Depending on how it is prepared, meat can also be challenging — but there are simple workarounds for that problem. Here are some recommendations:
- Ripe fruit
- Cooked vegetables
- Smoothies
- Hummus
- Tuna salad
- Egg salad
- Ground beef
- Pulled pork
- Fish
- Soft chocolate
Foods to avoid while wearing dentures
On the flip side, there are some foods that will still be challenging to eat with dentures, especially in the early days and weeks as you get used to them and learn how to prepare them to adjust to your new teeth.
- Random as this seems, lettuce is very difficult to eat with dentures meaning you may need to explore some new salad options
- Raw and hard fruits such as apples
- Raw and hard vegetables like carrots, celery, corn on the cob, and apples
- Nut butter (e.g. peanut butter and cashew butter)
- Pork chops and steaks (unless cut into small pieces)
- Hard candies (unless you can resist the urge to bite them and only suck them)
- Sweets such as toffee and brittles
Four tips for eating with dentures
Learning to live and eat with dentures will take a bit of time, so be patient with yourself. Once the adaptation process is complete, dentures in Winnipeg will restore much of the day-to-day dental function you lost as a result of losing your own natural teeth. Here are four general tips for making eating easier as you get used to your new dentures:
- Make things easy on yourself by beginning with softer foods before moving to harder foods and foods requiring more chewing
- Cut your food (especially meats) into smaller pieces than you ordinarily might
- Chew on both sides of your mouth at the same time, rather than relying solely on one side at a time
- Practice eating at home before making your debut in public
Are you still investigating denture options? Keep in mind that removable and implant-supported dentures offer different benefits on several fronts, including in relation to eating. If you have any questions about getting used to or living with your new dentures in Winnipeg, contact a dentist in East st Paul. We know at least two things about dentures. First, they can solve a lot of the problems related to tooth loss. Second, they can take some getting used to. Let us help.