Losing an entire arch of teeth can be frightening; suddenly, chewing all of the foods you love will start to seem like an impossible task. Getting dentures will let you solve this problem, but it may take some time before you’re fully comfortable using your false teeth. Here are 6 tips for eating with dentures in Marshall that will help make the adjustment process much easier.
1. Start Off Easy
When you first get dentures, it’s generally best to start off with a liquid diet that includes applesauce, pudding, soup broth, and pureed foods. Eventually, you’ll be ready to move on to soft foods that require some chewing (such as scrambled eggs); over time you can start introducing more and more foods back into your diet.
2. Be Careful of Hot or Cold Temperatures
Dentures have insulating qualities that can make it hard to judge temperature correctly. Use your lips to test foods and beverages before consuming them so that you don’t accidentally burn your mouth.
3. Chew with Both Sides of Your Mouth
Part of the trick to learning to eat with dentures is making sure they stay stable while you eat. Use both sides of your mouth to chew, and make sure your food is distributed evenly. Also, take your time to chew slowly and thoroughly before swallowing; poorly chewed food can cause you to choke, or it might lead to digestion problems.
4. Cut Your Food into Smaller Pieces
It’ll be easier to chew food that’s already been pre-cut into smaller bites. When eating fruits or vegetables, cut them into very thin slices or chop them into tiny, easily manageable pieces.
5. Drink Plenty of Water with Your Meals
Be careful around whole-grain bread and cereals; they’re good for your body, but they can stick to your dentures. Water and other liquids can make them easier to chew and swallow while causing fewer problems.
6. Avoid Certain Foods
There are a few foods to avoid with dentures in Marshall. Tough red meats are particularly hard to chew, although they may be easier to eat when stewed or slow-cooked; alternatively, you can replace them with poultry, fish or eggs.
Particularly hard foods, such as nuts, could damage your dentures. Sticky foods like peanut butter and certain candies can also cause complications. With enough practice, you should be able to eat almost anything with dentures, though you’ll still need to be careful with the above foods.
If you follow these tips, you should be able to enjoy your meals normally again within a few weeks with enough patience. Call your dentist for help if you think you’re having trouble with the process or if you’re dealing with issues like ill-fitting dentures that are causing sores in your mouth or won’t stay in place.
About the Author
Dr. Charles A. Parker has been practicing dentistry in Marshall for well over 30 years and is a member of the East Texas Dental Society. He can use dentures to give patients suffering from extensive tooth loss fully functional, fantastic smiles that’ll let them enjoy all kinds of meals. To schedule an appointment at his practice, Marshall Denture Clinic, visit his website or call (903) 935-6351.