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Christmas is nearly upon us so let’s explore how denture wearers can enjoy the celebrations! How do you navigate your way through the magnificent food choices on offer, including the Christmas classics we all love? Don’t worry, in this article we offer tips for avoiding sticky food situations, like Christmas toffees and cracking good pork rind, and what to know about those festive bubbles and your dentures. Lastly, we address what to do if things go wrong. A hint – don’t panic! With the right preparation and some smart strategies, you can enjoy your Christmas feast with dentures.
Classic Christmas food your dentures will love
As December rolls around, our thoughts soon fly to Christmas dinner with all the classic favourites. For years, even in the southern hemisphere summer, it was a traditional hot dinner with all the accompaniments; roast meat, often turkey with its bread stuffing and cranberry sauce, roast pork with applesauce, and of course gravy, the authentic sort made in the pan from the meat drippings. This was followed by Christmas pudding and custard or brandy sauce and then fruit cake, mince pies and shortbread if people had any room left. With dinner done I’m sure we all breathed a sigh of relief for the chance to enjoy a dip in the ocean or snooze in the shade.
In recent times, changing lifestyles have inspired changes. Menus now suit hot summer days and outdoor lifestyles better. Now cold feasts are more popular. The kind that can be prepared days before. Whether you observe the old traditions or embrace the new, here are some suggestions for denture friendly foods.
If you prefer traditional Christmas fare
Roast turkey and stuffing: roast poultry meat and roast pork are generally easily managed with well-fitting dentures. Turkey breast meat is more tender than the darker, coarser meat from the drumstick. Small mouthfuls are easiest to chew so cut your meat to size. Gravy will lubricate the meat for easier swallowing. The same applies to baked ham, which, being softer, is not hard to chew with dentures.
Roasted vegetables apart from roast potatoes, are also quite chewable. If you like roast potatoes (who doesn’t?) be sure to avoid the extra crusty ones which may prove more difficult for denture wearers.
Tips:
- Cut into small bite size pieces for easier chewing
- Take care to test the temperature of your food before you eat as full dentures with a covered palate affect temperature judgement
- Some stuffings may contain nuts so asking the cook about the stuffing content beforehand, can avoid unwittingly biting down on anything hard.
Traditional Christmas desserts
Christmas ‘pud’ was such a favourite in the past, if only for the sixpences and threepenny coins hidden within. Thankfully for denture wearers, that old currency no longer exists so it’s one hazard we no longer must contend with. Christmas puddings usually contain nuts like almonds or hazelnuts. Denture wearers can purchase nut-free puddings custom made for those with nut allergies. The length of time a home-cooked pudding is left to mature, or perhaps it’s the brandy that renders nuts much softer so they’re less of a problem for denture wearers. Traditional mince pies and shortbreads have a softer texture and don’t contain nuts.
Tips:
- Look for nut-free options if you are buying a Christmas pudding or cake
- Consider cold desserts like pavlova with summer stone fruits, stones removed of course
Crackling good or crackling bad Christmas foods and your dentures
We all know nuts are a hazard for denture wearers but what about pork crackling? Some would say it’s the best part of the pork roast. If you wear dentures however, you may disagree. While the crunchy texture may be considered the most appealing part of the pork crackling, and beyond your denture’s capacity to manage, choosing the fattiest parts of the crackling to grind into finer particles can allow you to still enjoy the flavour. This isn’t achievable with the chewier parts of the pork rind. Roast potatoes would have to be a favourite of any roast dinner. However, they are also the crispiest and more difficult to eat with dentures.
Tips:
- Try prosciutto instead of pork crackling. It tastes similar and is thinner and even when cooked it’s easier to chew.
- Choose among the many alternative recipes for potatoes like Potatoes au Gratin, surely the ultimate potato recipe! This French classic with its oven cooked layers of thinly sliced potato, cream, butter, garlic and cheese, is the perfect denture friendly potato dish to accompany the Christmas roast.
A Sticky Situation: managing festive sweets without denture disasters
Among the sweet treats offered at Christmas are candy canes, hard nougats, toffees, and candied nuts. I’m sure your family has its favourites. However, for denture wearers these treats can represent more of a nightmare than a treat. Gluing up your denture is the least of it. At worst, biting into something hard can snap a tooth off your denture or even break the denture in half. Not a situation you wish to find yourself in when clinics are closed for the holidays. If you fancy something sweet, choose instead from a wide range of softer options like fruit jellies Turkish delight, cream centred chocolates or other denture friendly sweets.
Tips:
- Avoid anything chewy, sticky, crunchy or hard
- Try softer alternatives or even small pastries, cookies or rum balls
- Take small bites and chew slowly and mindfully.
Contemporary denture alternatives for Christmas lunch
As I mentioned earlier, traditional Christmas feasts are changing. Our multi-cultural nation now enjoys a wonderful variety of food from around the world. Hot meals in the middle of the day don’t suit summer in the southern hemisphere. We would much rather dine on lighter fare that can be prepared the day before. Think less cleaning up, more time to spend with family, whether having a nap or a dip in cool waters. We are also a more mobile nation with many families on the move to visit as many relatives as possible on the day. Staying all day at one venue is not as common as it used to be, so long, sit-down meals aren’t practical.
Sensational seafood options for dentures
Seafoods like cooked prawns or crab are a popular choice for Christmas lunch. Once shelled and cut into bite size pieces, the meat is soft enough to chew. A side of smoked salmon from which thin slices are carved is a delicious addition to any salad smorgasbord. Or try a variety of salads with slices of baked ham. Pre-cooked and shredded turkey can be incorporated into numerous salad combinations. Sometimes combined with noodles or rice which are also denture friendly. There are countless ideas to choose from. Instagram is a favourite go-to for innovative recipes.
Alcohol and your dentures: how alcohol affects denture fit
While long term use of alcohol has multiple disadvantages for denture wearers, here we focus on the effects of short-term drinking of alcohol, which can contribute to some common issues for denture wearers. Dry mouth is an example, occurring when the salivary glands don’t produce enough saliva to keep your mouth lubricated, resulting in irritation of the soft oral tissues.
Alcoholic drinks can also weaken the adhesive bond you are relying on to help you navigate the more challenging foods on Christmas day. Certain denture adhesives contain alcohol that can temporarily affect breathalyser readings if tested shortly after application, though this effect wears off quickly.i Any alcohol already consumed should be factored in to avoid being over the limit.
If you have overindulged and are feeling a little green around the gills, for goodness’ sake, remove your dentures and stow them safely. Many a good denture has met its end after being vomited into the toilet bowl.
Advice for lovers of red wine or other dark pigmented drinks, be sure to rinse and clean your denture soon after drinking to avoid staining.
Getting your dentures Christmas-ready
Preparing ahead of the day gives you a better chance of avoiding mishaps and more time to enjoy the festivities. So, what should you do?
Arranging for a pre-holiday check-up at your denture clinic will address any small issues before they present as bigger ones. Mishaps have an uncanny habit of arising at the most inopportune times. Ask about adjustments or a reline to ensure your dentures fit snugly. There is less chance of biting your cheeks or getting sore spots when dentures fit well. Your prosthetist can clean your denture at the same time so your smile will be at its sparkling best.
Ensure you have a supply of your favourite denture adhesive on hand. Remember to apply before eating. This will give you confidence to enjoy the day and your meals.
Top up your denture care and cleaning supplies and pay particular attention to your dental hygiene.
Check out the holiday schedule of denture clinics near you in case the worst happens and you need repairs. Have emergency numbers on hand.
Boxing Day blues: after-Christmas denture care tips
Okay, so the big day has passed, and we are all in recovery mode. You have fared well considering. Perhaps a bit of irritation or a few sore spots on your gums after the feast.
The alcohol may have caused some dehydration and given you a dry mouth, so be sure to drink plenty of water.
Give your dentures a thorough examination for damage and a good clean. In the disastrous event that you broke your denture or lost a tooth, call your clinic and follow instructions for emergencies. Do not attempt to fix broken dentures yourself as you can cause more expensive damage and even jeopardise your health with inappropriate glues.
A final word
The festive season is for everyone – denture wearers included. With a little care and forward planning there is no reason you can’t join in the feasts and all the festive fun.
References
i Yoshida K, Okazaki H, Osatomi R, Oyakawa S, Noguromi M, Murata H. The potential effect of ethyl alcohol elution from liner type denture adhesives on breath alcohol concentration and determination of drunk driving
Disclaimer – Always consult your oral health professional for expert advice about your unique personal situation. The information given here is of a general nature and for the purpose of education only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your oral health specialist
