Dentures can provide a significant improvement in nutrition, quality of life, and confidence to people who are missing teeth. But can you eat with dentures? Please read our article to learn the answer to this question.

Can You Eat With Dentures?

The short answer to this question is you can eat with dentures. In fact, dentures are designed to help people who are missing teeth get better nutrition by being able to chew a wider variety of foods. However, there are typically some restrictions regarding the type of food you can eat with dentures. These restrictions usually depend on the type of dentures you wear:

Full Traditional Dentures

Traditional dentures are removable and rely on gums and jawbone for support. The method with which they are affixed in the mouth may present some degree of instability if a lot of force is applied to them when chewing. Typically, traditional dentures provide approximately 20 to 25 percent of natural chewing force. This means that wearing full traditional dentures comes with some dietary limitations. Specifically, it is advised to opt for soft foods that are easy to chew, such as:

Soups
Boiled or pureed vegetables
Soft cutlets
Bread without seeds
Yogurt and smoothies
Scrambled or soft-boiled eggs
Boiled or baked fish
Salads made of boiled vegetables (such as egg salad)
Pancakes
Soft fruit, such as bananas or baked apples
Soft pasta and rice

When wearing full traditional dentures, we recommend abstaining from the following foods:

Hard raw fruits and vegetables, such as apples, carrots, etc.
Hard meets (choose fish instead as it is much easier to chew)
Nuts, popcorn, crackers, and other crunchy foods
Sticky foods, such as toffee, caramel, and other candies

Implant-supported Dentures

Implant-supported dentures typically provide the most comfort to patients when eating. This type of denture is permanently affixed to several dental implants–metal posts fused with the jaw bone. Thus, the dentures are secure and stable in the mouth and can not slip or become displaced when you chew your food.

In fact, implant-supported dentures can provide up to 80 to 90 percent of biting force with natural teeth. As a result, people who have implant-supported dentures are able to enjoy a wide variety of foods. However, we still recommend avoiding foods that require a lot of biting force (for example, hard apples), as well as crunchy and sticky foods.

Implant-retained Dentures

Implant-retained dentures are also attached to dental implants. However, unlike implant-supported dentures, they are removable. The fact that implant-retained dentures “snap” on the dental implants makes them a stable and secure dental restoration, allowing people who wear them to enjoy a variety of foods.

The dietary restrictions when wearing implant-retained dentures also include hard, crunchy, and sticky foods.

Tips for Eating with Dentures

Apart from the dietary restrictions we mentioned before, other tips can help you make your meals more enjoyable when wearing traditional dentures:

When preparing your meals, cut your food into small pieces that will not require biting off or a lot of chewing.
Try to chew your food slowly, evenly distributing it in the mouth to avoid creating more pressure in one part of the mouth.
Try using a special denture adhesive to prevent your dental appliances from rubbing and snapping off your gums when chewing food.
Drink fluid along with your meals to soften the food and make it easier to chew. Drinking water with meals and throughout the day will also help prevent the mouth from being dry and the dentures from rubbing.
Since some patients struggle with drinking from a cup, using a straw might make the process easier.
If you are not yet used to eating with your traditional dentures, choose the softest foods first and slowly try to introduce slightly firmer foods.
Keep your dentures and your mouth clean to prevent bacteria from causing inflammation in the area where your dentures rub your gums. Irritation and inflammation can make meals with dentures even more uncomfortable.
If eating with dentures continues to be an issue, consult your dentist. In some cases, the problem might be caused by your dentures not fitting correctly. Also, if you wear your dentures for some years, they may require being changed for new ones, as the jawbone can shrink over time.

Get Your New Dentures at Chino Aesthetic

Do not hesitate to make an appointment with an experienced dentist at the Chino Aesthetic dental office today. Our specialists will offer you the most suitable and comfortable dentures to accommodate your needs and improve the quality of your daily life. We look forward to your visit.