5 Foods You Should Initially Avoid with Dentures
Dentures restore your smile and confidence after the loss of your natural teeth. However, they are not as durable as your regular teeth. That is why you should take extra care of your dentures. This article serves as a guide on the kind of foods you should avoid with new dentures and what you can eat with them.
Foods to avoid with dentures initially
Food adjustments are a significant concern for denture wearers. In order to protect your new dentures in the long run, here are some foods to avoid:
- Popcorn
Popcorns are a popular snack, but it can be problematic if you have dentures. We all, at some point, had a popcorn kernel annoyingly stuck in our teeth. So if you are new to wearing dentures, this problem can be worse. If a kernel gets stuck underneath your dentures, it will cause extreme irritation until it is removed. Avoid snacking on popcorn immediately after getting dentures.
- Steak
This favorite summertime food can be bad for dentures. Unless you eat the soft, melt-in-mouth variety of steak (which can be expensive), a good steak tends to be chewy. The extra chewing, combined with your new dentures, can cause gum pain. It could damage the strength of the teeth in your dentures or even dislodge your teeth completely from your prosthetic. You can still enjoy your steak, though. Cut it into small, bite-sized pieces to reduce the risk of damaging your teeth.
- Nuts
Nuts have many health benefits and are a nutritious snacking option. However, if you have started to wear dentures, avoid eating them for the initial few months. Denture wearers should use both sides of their mouths while chewing. This prevents the dentures from popping off. Since nuts are generally a hard snack and we typically eat them on the backside of the mouth, they can damage your teeth and dentures in the initial phase. Therefore, do not eat nuts if you recently got your dentures.
- Staining fluids
Consider minimizing your caffeine intake when you initially wear dentures. Your dentures are just as prone to staining as natural teeth. The stains appear faster and are much worse on new dentures. Red wine and black tea can also cause similar stains. Additionally, caffeine is a diuretic so it can cause dehydration and a dry mouth. This creates additional problems because saliva provides natural lubrication and prevents friction between your dentures and gums.
- Sticky candy
If you love sugary snacks and candies like caramel, toffee, brittle, gummies, etc., avoid them when you start wearing dentures. It is even challenging to remove candy from our natural teeth. It is harder to remove them from your complete or partial dentures. However, that does not mean that you have to give up on sweets. You can opt for denture-friendly treats, as discussed later.
Additionally, people with new dentures should also eat crunchy fruits, raw vegetables, crusty bread, and sticky foods with caution. Also, avoid overly spicy or high-temperature foods. Spicy foods may irritate your denture sores, and hot foods may burn your mouth.
Denture Friendly Foods
After getting a denture, eat soft, denture friendly foods like cereals, applesauce, broth, mashed vegetables, juice, and yogurt. You can also enjoy slow-cooked and ground meats as well as protein spreads like hummus, ripe fruits, and cooked vegetables.
You can enjoy cakes, soft chocolates, frozen treats like ice creams and yogurt, fruit smoothies, and puddings.
If you have any questions about dentures or you’re considering getting them, contact European Dentures for aesthetically pleasing, safe, and affordable dentures.
