Tooth loss can negatively affect your general health because you rely on two complete arches to thoroughly pulverize your meals enough to be easily swallowed and digested. Unfortunately, gaps in your grin can contribute to gastrointestinal issues from consuming overly large pieces. Furthermore, you might develop malnutrition if you can’t eat a wholesome diet to support your bodily functions.
Thankfully, your dentist can strengthen your bite force with dentures. These replacement teeth allow you to enjoy a wider variety of healthy ingredients, but certain foods could harm them. Continue reading to learn 3 culprits to avoid eating with dentures!
Option #1: Chewy Meats
With summer just around the corner, the days are growing longer and warmer, which is ideal weather for backyard barbecues. However, if you’re hoping to sink your new teeth into a giant cut of steak, you might need to adjust your expectations.
Tough cuts of meat can be particularly difficult to pulverize with dentures, especially if your restoration is new. Anything requiring excessive chewing to be mashed up sufficiently can rub sores into the tender tissues of your mouth until you’re more acclimated to your prosthetics. Many patients find it helpful to cut their meals into smaller portions or select substitutes that are more tender, like chicken or fish.
Option #2: Nuts, Seeds, or Popcorn
Plenty of people enjoy salty snacks like these, but they can be detrimental for denture patients. Nuts often have hard shells that can chip or crack the ceramic pontics or have a tough texture that can wear them down after prolonged or repeated chomping.
Furthermore, popcorn kernels are notorious for sliding into the space between the acrylic base and your gums, which can be incredibly frustrating and painful until removed. Stuck food also attracts unwanted bacteria that contribute to oral issues, like gum disease, which can make wearing dentures uncomfortable.
Option #3: Sticky Candies
You might want to brace yourself for bad news if you’re a fan of lollipops, taffy, caramel, or other sticky candies. Not only do these foods contain plenty of sugar, which is bad for your teeth, but they also can yank your restoration out of place. Then, it’s more likely to slip out of your mouth and become injured, or cause friction against your connective tissues, resulting in canker sores. If you’re looking for a denture-friendly dessert, you can try chocolate that melts in your mouth, or soft sweets like pudding and frozen yogurt.
Your dentist might also provide additional dietary restrictions to follow to keep your recently restored smile in excellent condition!
About the Practice
Patients at Dean Dental benefit from two dentists who are committed to helping people of all ages build and maintain happy, healthy smiles. Dr. Stacy and Dr. Jessica collaborate to provide a comprehensive menu of services at one convenient location, including dentures. They combine a caring approach with state-of-the-art equipment to enhance patient comfort while designing lifelike restorations intended to last. If you need to replace missing teeth, you can request an appointment on the website or call (724) 204-5858.