6 Tips for Easier Eating with Your New Dentures

Any endeavor requires a bit of adjustment, and that includes earing with your new dentures. While you might think using them is as easy as it was to chew with your natural teeth, the truth is that despite restoring the look and function of your smile, dentures still take some getting used to, especially if you’ve never worn them before. But don’t get discouraged. Here are a few helpful pointers to make getting started eating with your new prosthetics a whole lot easier!

Be Mindful of Where You Bite

When you go to bite into certain foods, you’re probably used to using specific teeth for the job. For example, to bite into a whole apple, you likely used your front teeth. With dentures, it’s recommended that you use your canines or “eye teeth” so that you don’t accidentally dislodge your prosthetics when you bite.

Eat a “Mechanical Soft Diet” at First

A mechanical soft diet is a diet that consists of mainly pureed or mashed foods such as applesauce or mashed potatoes. Of course, you can eat other soft foods that are naturally mushy like oatmeal or scrambled eggs, but the goal is to stick to soft foods first, and then gradually incorporate harder items once you master the easy ones.

Avoid Sticky or Chewy Foods

Sticky or chewy foods may be tough to break down at first, but they’re generally not a good idea even if you’re a pro. That’s because in addition to being harder to chew, foods like caramels, gummies, or taffy can be difficult to clean off your dentures, too.

Drink Water with Meals

Having a glass of water handy during mealtime is a great idea with dentures, because it can both help soften certain foods like bread, but it can also wash away particles that could otherwise cling to your dentures.

Sit Down to Eat

While eating on the go has become a way of life for many people, with new dentures it’s best to take the time to sit down and enjoy your meal. Sitting will help you focus on what you’re doing and chew properly, instead of gulping down air and failing to break down your food sufficiently.

Chew on Both Sides of Your Mouth

You may have been used to favoring one side of the mouth to chew with, especially if you were missing teeth on one side, but with dentures there is no need for this. In fact, distributing your food evenly will help keep your dentures in place while you eat.

Remember, getting the hang of eating with your new dentures could take a few weeks or more, so don’t get discouraged. With a little patience and practice, chewing with prosthetics will become second nature.

About Our Practice

At Dental Expressions, we know that having a full set of teeth isn’t just about looks; you want to be able to enjoy speaking clearly and eating a full diet, too. If you need to replace a few or more teeth, dentures can help restore your ability to use your teeth as they were intended. To learn more about if this solution is right for you, schedule a consultation with us today by visiting our website or calling 920-788-6280.