Getting dentures is an exciting step towards restoring your smile, but it’s normal for eating to feel a little different at first. Your mouth needs time to adjust to your new dentures, and certain foods or chewing habits may feel unfamiliar during the first few weeks. But with a little patience and practice, most people become much more comfortable eating with them.
Here are a few tips to help make the transition easier.
Start with Soft Foods
When you first receive your dentures, stick to foods that are soft and easy to chew. Yogurt, mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, oatmeal, soup, cooked vegetables, applesauce, pasta, and soft fish are all viable options
Foods like these require less chewing and place less pressure on your gums as they adapt to your dentures. As your comfort and confidence improve, you can gradually introduce firmer foods into your diet.
Taking the transition one step at a time helps prevent unnecessary discomfort.
Chew Slowly and Evenly
If you’ve been chewing one way your whole life, learning how to chew differently is going to take some getting used to. Instead of chewing on one side of your mouth, try chewing evenly on both sides at the same time. This helps distribute pressure more evenly and reduces the likelihood of your dentures shifting or tipping.
Take small bites and chew slowly. Rushing through meals can make it more difficult to control your dentures and may increase the risk of accidentally biting your cheeks or tongue.
Cut Food into Smaller Pieces
Large bites can be challenging when you’re new to dentures. Cutting food into smaller, bite-sized pieces makes chewing easier and helps reduce stress on your dentures.
It may also help you to avoid foods that are especially hard, sticky, or chewy during the adjustment period. Nuts, hard candies, caramel, chewing gum, and tough cuts of meat can be difficult to manage until you’ve become more accustomed to your dentures.
Hydrate!
Drinking plenty of water during meals can make eating more comfortable. Water helps keep your mouth moist, making it easier to chew and swallow food. It also helps rinse away food particles that may become trapped around your dentures.
If you experience persistent dry mouth for whatever reason, let your dentist know. Adequate saliva is important for denture comfort and overall oral health.
Be Patient with Yourself
Learning to eat with dentures is a process, and it’s perfectly normal to need time to adjust. If your dentures feel loose, cause sore spots, or make eating consistently uncomfortable, don’t try to fix them yourself. Instead, schedule an appointment with your dentist.
A simple adjustment can often improve the fit and make wearing your dentures much more comfortable.
The more you wear your dentures and practice eating with them, the more natural they’ll start to feel. Start with soft foods, chew evenly, take smaller bites, and follow your dentist’s recommendations. Before long, you’ll be enjoying many of your favorite foods again with confidence!
About the Author
If you’re interested in dentures, Cherry Hill dentist Dr. Jodi B. Meadvin would be honored to serve you. After all, she has spent more than 2 full decades practicing dentistry. It all began when she earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, though her learning didn’t end there. Dr. Meadvin is still passionate about taking continuing education courses when possible and is part of the Faculty Club at the renowned Spear Education and a current member of the New Jersey Dental Association and the American Dental Association. Schedule your appointment through our website or by phone at (856) 428-8822.