Denture Blog

Your Guide to Eating Well with New Partial Dentures

Dental professionals in places like Surrey often use a partial denture to help patients suffering from tooth loss restore their smiles and recover their ability to speak, chew, and eat comfortably. However, while partial dentures do provide patients with the freedom to enjoy most of the activities they did before tooth loss, they require some getting used to when it comes to your diet. Eating the wrong foods can easily damage dentures thereby leading to discomfort and other potential dental problems.

To help you maintain good oral health and get the most out of your partial dentures, here is a guide to what you can and can’t eat while getting used to your new teeth.

Soft Foods

One of the main things to consider when eating with a partial denture is the consistency of the food. Hard, crunchy, or chewy foods can damage your dentures and irritate your gums. For the first few days after receiving your new partial denture, you may want to focus on a “mechanical” soft diet consisting primarily of blended or pureed foods.

As your gums adjust to your partial dentures, you can add other soft foods to your diet, such as mashed or steamed vegetables, ripe fruits, soups, and tender meats.

Cooked Vegetables

Cooked vegetables are another great option for those with partial dentures to get the nutrients they need while still enjoying a variety of foods and flavours. Mashed sweet potatoes, roasted squash, steamed broccoli, and sautéed zucchini are healthy, tasty options that are easy to chew and loaded with all the vitamins and minerals you need to maintain a balanced diet.

Ripe Fruits

For a sweet snack, stock up on some of your favourite fruits. Many fruits become naturally soft when ripe, making them perfect for people with partial dentures. Some examples of easy-to-eat fruits include bananas, peaches, pears, mangos, oranges, and kiwis. Craving something not on the ok to eat list? You can also blend fruits like berries or apples into a smoothie for an easy-to-digest meal or add frozen yogurt for a tasty treat.

Tender Meats

Meat is an important source of protein and other essential nutrients, but it can be challenging to eat with partial dentures. Fish, ground meats, chicken, and eggs are good choices of animal-based proteins that are easy to eat with dentures. You can also replace some animal proteins with vegetarian alternatives such as cooked beans, lentils, and legumes.

However, if you do find yourself craving the occasional cut of red meat or pork, you can try preparing them in a slow cooker to render even tougher varieties of meats more tender and easier to chew.

Soups

Soups are another excellent way for partial denture wearers to pack a variety of essential nutrients into one tasty meal. Try experimenting with new recipes incorporating a range of vegetables, meats, and grains until you find combinations you love. Just be sure to double-check the temperature before eating, as the insulating effect of dentures can reduce your ability to judge heat.

Cut Food into Small Pieces

A final tip for eating with partial dentures is to cut your food into small pieces; this will make it easier to chew and reduce the risk of damaging your dentures or irritating your gums. You can also practice chewing on both sides of your mouth to distribute the pressure evenly and avoid putting too much strain on one side.

Living with partial dentures in Surrey is easier than you think. With a few simple modifications, you can quickly get back to enjoying nearly all the activities and foods you’re accustomed to without the discomfort of missing teeth.