People are social creatures when it comes to meal time.
Don’t let your dentures hold you back!
Brunch dates. Family picnic. Dinner at the pub.You don’t need to shy away from social food outings just because you’re worried about eating with dentures. We’ve put a few tips together to help you with your food selection, especially if you are a new denture-wearer.
1. Start with soft foods
Avoid anything that is too chewy or hard. Fish, eggs, chopped meat (chicken is softer than steak), cooked vegetables, and ice-cream are all soft foods and are great options for first-time denture-wearers. When you’re feeling more confident chewing with your dentures, you can move onto harder fruits and veggies.
2. Cut your food into manageable pieces
Make sure that you take small bites. It’s important to chew slowly and evenly on both sides to even out the pressure on your dentures and supporting gums. Pro tip: chewing slowly also aids with digestion and gives you time to realise you’re getting full. Remember to bite down using your back teeth, not your front teeth!
3. Minimise denture movement
If you have food trapped between the denture and your gum, or your denture is moving a lot, a short-term solution would be to use a denture adhesive to create a seal. You can find these in your local supermarket.
To fix instability long-term, you will most likely need to reline your dentures. This will ensure your denture is well-adapted to the underlying bone ridge, which gradually declines as the bone no longer needs to support the roots of teeth.
If you think your dentures are due for a reline, book an appointment with Moorooka Denture Clinic here or Silkstone Denture Clinic here.