Toothy Transition: 3 Tips for Eating with Dentures

Dentures remain a popular way to rebuild your smile after losing all or most of your teeth because of their many benefits. Not only do they look and feel natural, but they also restore your ability to eat and speak more normally.

However, it can take about a month for your tongue and other supporting muscles to acclimate to performing once-simple tasks with prosthetics in your mouth. Many patients struggle to learn how to sufficiently chew food while keeping their dentures in place. If you’re having a hard time, continue reading to learn three tips to help you adjust!

Helpful Hint #1: Stick With Soft Foods

Your gums aren’t used to having dentures pressed against them all day and might feel inflamed or sore until they become desensitized. Eating overly hard or crunchy foods can irritate them even further, so it’s best to stick to softer foods in the beginning. Popular options include scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, applesauce, pudding, and yogurt. That way, you can consume various nutrients to support your body without causing additional discomfort. Then, once you’re ready, you can gradually begin introducing more solid foods back into your diet.

Helpful Hint #2: Chew Slowly

Even if they don’t realize it, many people grind their meals more on one side of their mouth than the other. This might not be an issue under normal circumstances, but it can be problematic with dentures. Eating with only one part of your mouth increases the likelihood that they will become destabilized and potentially fall out of your mouth, which can feel self-defeating when trying to learn a new skill.

Instead, chew slowly and deliberately with both sides of your mouth. With enough time and practice, this will become second nature, so you don’t have to focus on it as intently.

Helpful Hint #3: Check the Temperature

The soft skin of your lips and inside your mouth are sensitive to temperature changes, so you know whether you are eating or drinking something too hot. Unfortunately, dentures cover many of the receptors that relay this information, so it’s harder to discern how hot or cold your meal is. You might accidentally bite into something that burns your tender tissues or warps the base of your dentures, so they no longer fit.

Instead of relying on touch, you can look for other cues, like steam rising from the surface, that indicate whether something is too warm.

You can enjoy a much smoother transition to life with dentures by making a few simple adjustments!

About the Practice

At Bear Creek Family Dentistry, a team of experts provides a full range of services from several locations to meet all your dental needs. With general dentists and specialists on staff, they can handle everything from basic preventative care to more complex restorations and procedures. They combine a caring and attentive approach with state-of-the-art equipment to improve your oral health and enhance your smile. If you’ve suffered from tooth loss and are seeking replacements, you can request a consultation on the website or call the Jefferson Blvd. office at (214) 333-3100.