After losing your natural teeth, you have come to appreciate having a complete smile. In addition to having confidence to smile, you miss the ability to eat certain foods most of all. When you get your new dentures, you imagine all you will be able to bite and chew again.
Wait! Before you dig in, you need to know the limitations of your traditional dentures. There are some foods that do not pair well with these replacements, and knowing them from the start can help you avoid uncomfortable or embarrassing situations down the road.
Raw Vegetables and Fruit
If you want to have a balanced, nutritious diet, you need to have plenty of vegetables and fruit, but some can be tough to bite and chew with traditional dentures. For example, raw carrots or crispy apples are hard and crunchy, requiring a strong and stable bite. Whether you have had your dentures for a long time or have just recently started wearing them, you might not have the strength to bite into raw vegetables and chew them for digestion.
Fortunately, many vegetables can be cooked, steamed, softened, or pureed, making it easier to get your daily vitamins and minerals.
Steak
If you are like most steak lovers, you want yours juicy and tender. However, steak can be overly chewy and difficult for those who wear dentures. Most dentists recommend getting a more tender cut of meat and cutting it into smaller pieces or opting for fish or chicken, which are easier to chew with dentures.
Nuts, Seeds, or Popcorn
When it comes to eating nuts, seeds, and popcorn, there are two main problems. One is that these foods are hard, but the other more probable issue is that pieces of these hard foods can easily become lodged underneath the denture. This can not only feel extremely uncomfortable on your gums, but it can also interfere with your ability to continue eating as well as raise your risk of a gum infection. You may even have to steer clear of bread that contains seeds or nuts to avoid this unpleasant situation.
Gum or Sticky Candy
After getting dentures, you learn pretty quickly that sticky foods present a problem. Traditional dentures rely on suction to stay in place, but sticky foods can hold onto your dentures. In other words, you can bite into sticky foods and have to work to get your dentures out again. As a result, your dentist may recommend staying away from gum, sticky candy, and even dried fruit entirely.
Alternative to Dentures
If you find yourself wishing you could enjoy these foods again, your dentist has a solution—attach your dentures to dental implants. These posts are embedded in the jawbone, so they are extremely strong. In fact, you can get about 75 percent of your original biting power back!
Whether you decide to get implant dentures or the traditional kind, it is important to know what you can and cannot eat so that you do not have to deal with unnecessary pain or awkwardness with your dentures.
About the Practice
Pioneer Greens Dentistry has served the Lincoln area for many years now. Dr. Chris Haag, Dr. Claire Haag, and Dr. Justin Shirk each have years of advanced training, but they all put each patient’s needs first. In addition to traditional restorations, our practice is proud to offer start-to-finish dental implant treatment and use a 3D cone beam scanner for more accurate, successful tooth replacements. If you have questions regarding your dentures, you can schedule an appointment online or call our office at 402-483-7502.