It can take a few weeks to adjust to dentures, but once your mouth is strong, you can eat just about any food. There will always be some foods that aren't denture-friendly, like chewing gum, popcorn, whole nuts, steak, and sticky candy.
Avoid certain foods in the beginning – When you're first learning to chew with your dentures, you should avoid eating foods that you have to bite into like pizzas and burgers. These types of foods can easily dislodge your dentures. Sticky foods might also be problematic for new denture wearers.
How Long Should You Wait Before Eating Solid Foods With Dentures? As a general rule, you may be advised to wait three to four weeks before you start with solid foods.
Hard foods: Chewing hard foods require your jaw and dentures to apply uneven pressure. This can dislodge or damage your dentures, so avoid nuts, popcorn, apples, raw carrot sticks and corn on the cob. Tough meats: Foods that require a lot of chewing place unnecessary stress on your dentures and gums.
Doughy foods, such as breads will stick to dentures and should be eaten with liquids. When trying to eat a sandwich, cookies or any other food that is generally bitten down on with the front teeth and torn off, the denture can dislodge.
Salty Snacks
If you find yourself craving something salty, remember that hard, sharp, or jagged pieces don't play nicely with dentures and can be uncomfortable if lodged in your mouth. Rather than reaching for chips or popcorn, lighter foods like crackers or vegetable sticks with dip are a better alternative.
Regardless of the type of dentures you're using, wearing them in your sleep is a bad idea, and will cause you a number of health issues down the line. To keep your mouth bacteria-free, your gums healthy, and your bones unaltered and strong, make sure to remove your dentures every night before going to sleep.
Generally you should wear your dentures for at least 8 hours a day. This will give your gums and jawbone time to get used to the dentures and prevent sore spots from developing. It is best to take them out at night so that your gums can rest. You should also remove them for eating, drinking, brushing and flossing.
Coffee can also stain dentures and gum should be avoided altogether due to its stickiness. Nuts and seeds are also a bad idea since they could get stuck under the denture and cause redness or soreness to the mouth.
Pasta: Pasta is a great option for denture wearers. There's also so much variety with types and sauces.
The spaces surrounding dentures are prime places for food to get stuck. Dentures can also slip out of place uncomfortably when you bite into hard foods.
You Can Still Enjoy Meat While Wearing Dentures. When it comes to meat, fish, chicken and ground meat tend to be easiest on dentures. Opt for one of these three varieties to get your daily protein instead of steak or another overly-chewy meat like pork chops and you will not have any issues with your dentures.
The American Dental Association recommends you replace your dentures every 5-7 years for proper fit and appearance. Denture teeth can wear down and stain faster than natural teeth, and tissues in your mouth may change over time.
You should never wear your dentures 24 hours a day without preforming proper oral hygiene. Dentures should be cleaned at night and stored in water during the night.
It is possible to harm your oral health if you leave your dentures in for a long time. Plaque is more likely to accumulate on dentures and tongues of people who wear dentures all night long. You are more prone to gum disease, oral thrush, and bone loss if you wear your dentures for a long period without removing them.
Some of the best toothpaste for dentures include Fresh 'n Brite, Polident Dentu-Creme, and Dr. B Dental Solutions. If you use the best toothpaste for dentures, they always remain in perfect condition. Dentures should not be soaked in bleach, as some bleach may change your dentures' base color.
Cleaning with a normal toothbrush and toothpaste can be abrasive and cause damages, leading to an increased chance of bacteria forming and a displeasing look to your dentures. Abrasive toothpaste can also increase stain adherence on dentures.
You can enjoy sugary foods and beverages once in a while, even if you wear full dentures or partial dentures. Just be careful about the amount of sweets you consume and when you eat them.
The bite force that dentures provide is much weaker than natural teeth and dental implants. This is because dentures rest over the gums, rather than teeth and implants whose roots are anchored to the jaw bone. Also, with traditional dentures, chewing capacity is decreased by 50%.
By listening closely to the person, you may detect a lisp. This happens because the tongue and the mouth are not used to having dental plates. However, as time passes, the lisp will eventually disappear, and it will be impossible to know if the person is wearing a denture by observing the person's speech.
Abstain from solid hard foods.
Dentures can easily break if you put excessive pressure on them. Stay away from foods that require added force to chew them properly.