Dietary Don’ts: Foods to Avoid with Dentures

When you restore your teeth with the help of dentures, you are not only bringing back your beautiful smile, but you are also expanding your dietary options to include many foods you may not have been able to enjoy with missing teeth. Unfortunately, however, though your new dentures can expand your menu choices, there are still some foods that you should not eat with them. Here are a few selections that denture wearers should avoid.

Denture Diet Don’ts

Though they are designed to replace your missing teeth, dentures simply don’t have as strong of a biteforce as your natural teeth did. Thus, they cannot be used to chew certain foods or preparations of foods.

Nuts & Seeds

Nuts and seeds are a great way to get protein and healthy fats, however they can be tough to crunch with dentures. But that doesn’t mean you have to skip the entirely. Nut butters can be easily made in your blender or food processor, or you can pick up a jar at the supermarket and reap all those delicious benefits without endangering your prosthetics.

Stewed Meats

While meats are still a wonderful way to get protein, certain preparations are harder to chew than others. If you’re looking to indulge your carnivorous cravings, stick to grilled, broiled, or roasted meats and avoid stewed or other tougher to chew culinary techniques.

Sticky Stuff

Chewy or sticky foods like caramels, taffy, and gummies are all delicious sweets, but they can be a danger to dentures because they’re very hard to clean away. The last thing you want is to have food lodged in between your new teeth that can accumulate debris and bad odors.

Popcorn

While it may be hard to imagine enjoying a movie without a big bowl of popcorn, this treat can easily get stuck between your dentures, causing damage. Worse yet, those pesky little hulls can get trapped underneath them, irritating your gums until you figure out what’s going on. Furthermore, accidentally biting down on seeds can crack or chip the crowns, so those are a red flag, too!

Corn on the Cob

Corn on the cob is a summer staple, but it can be hard to bite into with dentures, and it can easily get trapped between their teeth. Thankfully, you don’t have to skip this side entirely. Just cut the corn off the cob before enjoying. Problem solved!

Staining Foods & Fluids

Darkly colored beverages like red wine, coffee, hot chocolate, and cola can all leave behind stains on your real and your false teeth. Thus, if you want to keep your new dentures looking clean and pristine, avoid these types of drinks or be sure to clean them immediately after enjoying.

Staining foods to beware of include berries, tomato sauces, and certain spices like turmeric or saffron. They can still be consumed, but again, be sure to brush your teeth right after so stains don’t set in!

Other Options

If these dietary restrictions are dealbreakers, don’t despair. Implant dentures offer the best of both worlds and can easily allow you to enjoy a plethora of foods. They attach to the jaw via several posts, just like dental implants, however instead of having each tooth on a separate post, they are attached to a larger denture that is permanently affixed in your mouth. This provides greater biteforce than traditional dentures, but without the cost of restoring your whole mouth with dental implants.

Remember, your dentures are here to help you speak properly and chew a wider variety of foods than you could without your natural teeth, but there are still some dietary adjustments you’ll need to make. The good news is that with a little menu maneuvering, you’ll be able to consume a bounty of healthy and delicious options and maintain them for years to come!

About Our Practice

At Randolph Dental Care, we provide a variety of oral health solutions under one roof. Whether you need an exam and cleaning, a cosmetic treatment, or you’re ready to restore your smile with a new pair of dentures, our team of compassionate, caring dentists and assistants is ready to help!

To schedule an appointment for dentures, please visit our website or call us today at 973-895-7995.