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How can you enjoy eating with dentures and why does good nutrition matter so much when you have them? There's no doubt eating with dentures is different from eating with natural teeth, but that's no reason to forgo the foods you love. A well-fitting denture can cope with most foods, whether served in the usual way or modified a little to allow you to still savour every mouthful. It is simply a matter of adjustment. But firstly, we ask you to consider where you are in your denture journey – are you a novice denture wearer, or perhaps you’ve comfortably worn the same denture for years and are now trying to adjust to a new one? Together with your mindset, both these situations make a difference to the foods you eat and how you prepare them.
In this guide, we explain what you can eat with dentures, which foods to be careful with, and how good nutrition helps your dentures fit better.
Why you need a well-fitting denture to eat well
To eat well you need a denture that fits well. With the benefit of today's modern technology and the advanced skills in prosthetics, there is no reason why you shouldn't have a properly fitting denture – a comfortable one that allows you to enjoy the foods you like. That said, if you have a new denture after the old one broke or wore out, or you have just had teeth extracted and are adjusting to wearing a denture, it's not uncommon for there to be a settling-in period. This adjustment phase may be seen as having two aspects – the first is the physical adjustments you must allow for as your gums and oral tissues heal, and the second is a psychological one, often a little more challenging.
Where are you on your denture journey?
Physical adjustments
Perhaps you've recently had teeth extracted and an immediate denture fitted. Your mouth and gum tissues are swollen and tender as your mouth heals. Initially the immediate denture may feel like a foreign intrusion, but as your mouth heals and tissues and gums recede, your denture may become loose and irritate your healed gums. During this phase, eating can be a challenge.
Or, you may be a long-time denture wearer who is adjusting to wearing a new denture after the comfortable old denture you had for years has worn out. In both these cases, you can expect the discomfort to be temporary.
Psychological adjustments
Adjusting your mindset to wearing a denture can be a little trickier depending on your individual situation, your patience and pain threshold, and ability to persist. In that case you should try to be patient with yourself. Expect to take baby steps knowing there are rewards for persisting. Most important, seek the help of your oral health providers and follow their advice. A comfortable, well-functioning denture boosts both physical comfort and psychological wellbeing.
The importance of seeking support from your prosthetist
Some people make a smooth transition from natural teeth or an 'old friend' of a denture to wearing a new one. For others, whether it be for clinical reasons or psychological ones, the road may be a little more challenging. Whatever the case, it's important to remember your prosthetist is as invested in your success as you are. Don't wait until an irritated gum becomes an inflamed sore spot. A small adjustment may be all that's needed to rectify the problem. For a variety of reasons, some people need more denture adjustments than others. Ask your prosthetist about relines. A cushiony lining on the inside of your denture may be just the thing to restore fit and banish sore spots. Denture adhesives are also a good temporary fix if you need extra security until you get a denture that fits. Working with your prosthetist to get the denture you deserve is the road to good oral health and gastronomic bliss.
Getting new dentures
Perhaps you are new to dentures and feeling a little despondent during the adjustment phase. It just doesn't seem to happen quickly enough for you. So how do other people manage? If you're struggling, remember you're not alone. The next time you're in a restaurant, look around – take heart from the fact that one in six adults are eating comfortably with dentures. And they're not all older people. Young adults wear dentures too. With patience and the right adjustments, you will join them. Modern dentures look so good now and work so effectively, they can be impossible to spot.
The transitional phase
Even seasoned denture wearers must expect a transitional period when they’re replacing their old dentures with new. One of the major concerns as people get used to their dentures is the fear they may dislodge – even fall out! Some patients feel uncomfortable eating in public as a result. These feelings of insecurity will diminish as your mouth adjusts to the denture and you grow in confidence. The muscles in your face develop and together with the suction created between your upper palate and the denture, learn to hold it in place while eating, speaking, laughing, and engaging in life. The bottom denture cannot rely on suction like the upper denture, but rather it depends on gum ridges and facial muscles for security. Denture fixative or glue can be used to help you over the hump until the adjustment takes place. Having confidence in your denture's security allows you to trust your denture will remain firm while you venture beyond the soft food stage to more normal eating. Remember to take it slowly, "a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step".
Now we have established with certainty that many people eat effectively wearing dentures, let's consider other questions you may have about eating with dentures.
What can I eat with dentures?
While there are a few foods that are best avoided, new denture wearers do not have to go hungry. In fact, they can eat as well as those with natural teeth, albeit with some modification. The extent of change in your diet to accommodate dentures is subjective. People have differing degrees of tolerance and adaptivity, which can improve as they become more confident and accustomed to their new dentures. Small changes to your meal preparation may also widen your food choices. Reducing the bite size or texture of the ingredients can allow them back into your diet, for example. Think of a whole steak in contrast to a slow-cook steak casserole. Talking to long term denture wearers about how they manage may help. It pays to be aware though, people rarely talk about what they can eat, rather they seem to concentrate on what they feel deprived of; a phenomenon known as 'negative bias', which humans are hardwired for.
Gastronomic bliss: enjoying favourite foods with dentures
Isn't it always the case the moment you're prohibited from having something is the moment your craving ramps up? What if all it took to allow you to eat what you crave was a small modification to the way you served that food? And remember, you won't remain on the same stage of your denture journey for long, but will advance as you heal, become accustomed to your dentures and more adept at trying different ways to prepare the foods you love. So, keep your eye firmly on the destination. A list of typically favourite foods denture wearers think they must forgo follows with tips for how to enjoy them anyway:
1. Steak and other meats
Steak can be challenging because of the chewing required. Steak devotees worry vigorous chewing may dislodge their dentures or cause painful pressure on their gums. A solution lies in selecting tender cuts like rib-eye or filet mignon and grilling to medium and well done. Tenderise less tender cuts before grilling or have your butcher do it for you. Using less expensive cuts in casseroles or slow cookers makes them easier to chew. Cut meat into smaller morsels that require less chewing. And take it slowly. Fish can be a tasty protein alternative and easier to chew.
2. Raw apples
Who doesn't love the crunch of a fresh apple and the rush of juice over the taste buds when you bite into it? Think those days are gone now you have dentures? Not so. While you may not be able to bite into a whole apple, cutting into slices and smaller pieces works well for a full denture. Some partial dentures secured to natural teeth with clasps allow you to take a bite out of a whole apple without dislodging the denture. Cooking apples to soften them or grating raw apples ensures you don't have to miss out.
3. Raw vegetables and textured fruit
The secret to enjoying raw vegetables as a denture wearer is grating, shredding, or cutting them into more manageable pieces. Steaming until just firm but not hard also works well. Roasting softens vegetables and brings out their wonderful flavour. Make sure fruit is fully ripe before eating.
4. Green vegetables
Green vegetables like Asian greens, spinach or kale can be lightly steamed and added to smoothies. Or try steaming then pureeing or chopping them finely for perfect pasta sauces. This method makes them less likely to tangle in your denture.
5. Nuts
Nuts are traditionally avoided by denture wearers because they have an annoying tendency to lodge beneath the denture. Ground nuts like almond meal provide all the benefits of whole nuts but are easy to eat and perfect to cook with, providing a healthy alternative to wheat flour. Nut butters and pastes offer the flavour without the irritation of whole nuts. However, avoid thick nut pastes like peanut butter as they can gum up your denture. Alternatively peanut butter can be thinned with peanut oil to make it more palatable. If you haven't tried cashew butter yet you don't know what you're missing.
6. Breads
Crusty breads can be a challenge. Softer breads and dinner rolls are easy to manage but even some textured breads can be managed if torn into bite size pieces and chewed slowly.
7. Sweet corn
While eating cooked sweet corn on the cob may still be possible for some partial denture wearers, it proves a bridge too far for those with full dentures. The force required to bite the kernels from the cob and the angle required make this a danger zone. The kernels are notorious for getting beneath the upper denture especially, aggravating the palate. Better to cook first then cut the kernels from the cob and enjoy them in casseroles, salads, patties or a sauce.
8. Popcorn
Popcorn suffers the same notoriety among denture wearers as corn on the cob. Look for varieties of hull-less popcorn or other puffed snacks with a popcorn flavour to avoid irritation between the denture and your palate.
9. Seeded berries and sesame seeds
Blackberries and the like can pose a similar problem as popcorn, with tiny seeds lodging between your gums and denture. The same is true for poppy and sesame seeds and some grains like quinoa. Once cooked, seeds soften somewhat but better to find them in other forms to avoid the problem. Tahini paste is a good flavour substitute for sesame seeds, while preserves, desserts or smoothies can mitigate the pesky berry seed irritation. Substitute with other berries like blueberries, whose tiny seeds pose no problem.
10. Hard lolly and toffee substitutes
If hard lollies and toffees can't be totally avoided (let's face it they are not healthy), then you may have to resort to sucking rather than chewing. On the upside, the flavour will last longer, and they won't glue up your denture. Chocolate without nuts, especially dark and the better-quality kind, is a great alternative for those with a sweet tooth. Cheaper chocolate can be cloggy in the mouth. One thing to keep in mind though — avoid eating chocolate straight from the fridge. Cold chocolate becomes surprisingly hard and can crack or damage your denture before it has a chance to soften.
How you eat can help you enjoy the foods you love
- Start with softer foods and gradually work up to harder foods.
- There is no rush, eat mindfully, the slower the better. Taking small bites and chewing slowly will help you adjust to the denture in your mouth and avoid accidentally biting your cheeks.
- Try not to use your front teeth for biting into foods.
- Give each side of your denture equal chewing time by alternating between both sides of your mouth.
- Sipping water between mouthfuls can help wash tiny food particles down. This will slow down your eating and help avoid bolting your food.
- Be sure to clean or rinse your denture and mouth after eating to remove any trapped food particles which might cause irritation.
- Eating a wide variety of foods ensures you get your proper nutrition.
Now that we know how to enjoy eating with dentures, let's talk about why ‘what’ you eat matters so much. Good nutrition and well-fitting dentures go hand in hand. Understanding why will help motivate you to maintain a healthy, varied diet.
Why eating well matters so much when you wear dentures
You might think nutrition is only about feeling healthy in general, but for denture wearers there is much more to it than that. What you eat directly affects how well your dentures fit, how comfortable they are, and how long they last. Here's why:
Keeping your jawbone strong
After you lose your natural teeth, your jawbone begins to shrink. Think of it like muscles that get smaller when you don't use them. If you're not eating nutritious foods, this shrinking happens even faster. You need calcium (found in legumes, dairy products and green vegetablesi), vitamin D (from sunlight, fatty fish, eggs, mushrooms and fortified foodsii) and protein (from meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, nuts, some vegetables, and certain grains and beansiii). When your jawbone shrinks significantly, your dentures won't fit properly anymore, meaning more frequent adjustments or replacements, costing you time and money.
Keeping your gums healthy
Your gums are like a cushion between your dentures and your jawbone. They need good nutrition to stay strong and healthy. Vitamin C (found in oranges, strawberries and tomatoes) keeps gums healthy and helps healing. B vitamins (from whole grains, meat and leafy greens) keep tissues strong. Protein helps repair any sore spots that may develop. Without proper nutrition, your gums become thin and tender, making your dentures uncomfortable and increasing the chance of painful sore spots.
Fighting off infections
Denture wearers are more prone to mouth infections. This is especially the case if good hygiene is neglected. Candida – a fungal infection that appears as white patches in the mouth – is a common problem for denture wearers.iv Good nutrition helps your body fight infections naturally. Protein builds your body's defence system, zinc (found in meat, shellfish and legumes) helps fight germs, and vitamins A, C and E protect against infection.v
Strong muscles for chewing
Chewing with dentures relies on your jaw muscles, cheek muscles and tongue. Among other important elements, protein is essential to keep muscles strong.
Keeping your mouth moist
Saliva is incredibly important for denture wearers. It helps your dentures stick in place and makes eating comfortable. When you're dehydrated or malnourished, you produce less saliva, which means your dentures slip around more, your mouth feels dry and uncomfortable, eating becomes more difficult, and you're more likely to get sore spots. Staying well hydrated and eating nutritious foods supports healthy saliva production.vi
The implications of not eating well with dentures
It's important to note that without a functional denture your eating habits will be negatively impacted. While your mouth is recovering from extractions or you're experiencing sore spots or painful gums as you adjust to your new denture, you may find yourself hesitant to eat. Or you may restrict your diet to a few soft and easy options. This isn't a problem if it is a temporary situation. However, less efficient biting and chewing ability may mean important nutrients are missed, having health implications if you continue for a long period of time. This can influence food selection for older folk especially, resulting in loss of dietary fibre and vitamins and minerals only available in a diverse diet, together with protection that a good diet affords from age-related disease. For these reasons, having regular denture checks is essential.
How to break the downward spiral
When nutrition slips, your dentures don't fit as well, so eating becomes uncomfortable. You could start avoiding healthy foods that are harder to chew, like meat, vegetables and fruit. You may choose soft, processed foods instead. Your nutrition will suffer, your gums and bones become less healthy, and your denture fit worsens. This cycle continues to spiral unless you break it. But the good news is, everything we've discussed in this article about preparing and enjoying food with dentures can help you do exactly that.
A final word
My goodness! If you weren't hungry before you began to read, you most certainly will be now. It's encouraging to know with just a little bit of thought and preparation, you can enjoy the foods you love. Remember, patience and perseverance are key. Understanding that you are not alone in adjusting to new ways of eating with your denture, with almost everything being on the table (pun intended), you can plan your next menu with confidence and delight. Good nutrition means keeping your dentures comfortable, your gums healthy, and your body strong. Your prosthetist is always there to help. Regular check-ups ensure your dentures continue to work well for you, supporting not just your enjoyment of food, but your health and wellbeing for years to come.
References
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2597301/
https://www.fixodent.co.uk/en-gb/advice-tips/living-with-dentures/eating-and-chewing/chewing-gum-with-dentures
Disclaimer – This information is general in nature and not a substitute for professional nutritional or medical advice. Consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian for personalised dietary recommendations.
