Caring for an Elderly Parent With Special Dental Needs

Eating Tips For New Denture Wearers

27 November 2018

Joe Lawrence

If you're missing multiple teeth, or have many teeth that are in poor shape and need to be removed from your mouth, your dentist may suggest dentures. While dentures are custom made to fit the shape of your mouth, they can still take some time to get used to when you first get them. One thing that many new denture owners find quite difficult the first few weeks is eating. Luckily, your facial muscles will eventually get used to eating while wearing dentures and it will become your new normal, but in the meantime there are several things that you can do during the adjustment period. If you're getting dentures in the near future, use the following tips for eating while you get used to them:

Start Out with Liquids and Soft Foods

In the days after you get your dentures, it is best to plan on consuming liquids and very soft foods. Broths, soups, soft boiled eggs, mashed potatoes, oatmeal, applesauce, and pudding are all good options. These types of food are easy to swallow with little to no chewing, ensuring that you still get plenty of nutrients while you are adjusting to eating with your dentures in.

Cut Foods into Very Small Pieces

After a few days, you will most likely feel comfortable moving on from liquids and very soft food. When you do so, take the time to cut your food into very small pieces. It will take some effort to chew your food when you're new to wearing dentures, and you don't want to risk eating large pieces of food. Also make sure to thoroughly chew your solid food in order to make sure that you don't choke.

Chew on Both Sides

When you wear dentures, it is important to distribute your food to both sides of your mouth and chew evenly. If you try to chew with only one side, there is a good chance that your dentures will dislodge or you will have a hard time properly chewing your food up enough to safely swallow. It is always a good idea to pay very careful attention to how food is distributed in your mouth the first few weeks that you wear dentures.

Stay Away from Sticky or Hard Food

If you're new to wearing dentures, it is in your best interest to stay away from hard or sticky foods. Foods like caramel or other sticky candy, along with hard foods, like corn on the cob or raw vegetables require a lot of chewing, and if you're not used to it, you dentures can slip. Save these types of foods until you are very comfortable eating with dentures.

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