Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Getting Used to Dentures
• Part 2 of 3: How to Enjoy the Food You Like
• Part 3 of 3: Foods to Avoid
• Tips
• Warnings

Eating with dentures is different from eating with your own teeth. If you chew on only one side of your mouth, your dentures may loosen or come off. In addition, food of a certain texture can damage or dislocate dentures. So be patient and give yourself a few weeks to get used to dentures in your mouth. You will have to avoid certain foods, but with some preparation, you can continue to enjoy most of the foods you like.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Getting Used to Dentures

1. 1 Chew food on both sides of your mouth. Food should be located in the back of the mouth on the chewing teeth or on the front corners of the mouth. Chew slowly with both sides of your mouth. This will make your dentures less prone to misalignment and evenly distribute the pressure on your teeth.
2. 2 Try not to chew with your front teeth. Biting off food with your front teeth creates a high risk of denture displacement. Instead, try to bite the food slightly sideways and then use your tongue to move it onto the chewing teeth in the back of your mouth. Chew food thoroughly and slowly before swallowing.
3. 3 Adapt to dentures with a liquid diet. For people who have never worn dentures before, it can be very difficult to chew any solid food. In this case, it is prudent to begin adaptation by consuming nutritious fluids such as fruit and vegetable juices or milk (animal or vegetable). Then you should gradually switch to the use of fruit and vegetable purees, for example, applesauce or compote. Here are a few more options:
   • tea or coffee sweetened with honey;
   • soup, broth or puree soup without lumps of rough food.
4. 4 Switch to eating soft foods. Such food will be easy to chew and swallow. Cut or crush food before eating, if necessary. In addition to liquid foods, you can also consume:
   • soft cheese, eggs, mashed potatoes, minced meat dishes and boiled legumes;
   • soft fruits, boiled rice and pasta;
   • bread and cereal soaked in milk or water.

Part 2 of 3: How to Enjoy the Food You Like

1. 1 Use a special denture adhesive. This adhesive will protect you from food particles entering the space between the denture and the gums. Make sure your denture is clean and dry first. Then squeeze a few short strips of glue onto it from the side where the denture touches your mouth. Try not to apply the adhesive too close to the edges of the denture, so that it does not squeeze out and begin to bulge. Start with a little glue and increase as needed.
   • Denture adhesive may be especially necessary for lower dentures that are loose with the tongue. Ask your dentist for a denture adhesive that will suit your diet.
2. 2 Cut coarse food into smaller pieces. Chop apples or raw carrots into smaller, pliable pieces instead of biting whole. Use a knife to remove the boiled corn from the cob. Remove crust from pizza or bread. Once you learn to eat most of your food differently, you won't have to give it up.
3. 3 Steam vegetables. This will preserve the flavor of the vegetables, but will soften them while giving them a slightly crunchy texture.Pour about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water into a large saucepan. Place it on a high heat burner and bring to a boil. Place a steaming net in a saucepan over the water and place fresh vegetables on top of it. Place the lid on the pot and steam the vegetables for about ten minutes.

Part 3 of 3: Foods to Avoid

1. 1 Refrain from eating especially solid foods. Dentures can break if you put too much pressure on them. Avoid foods that require extra effort to chew properly. Examples of such foods include croutons, kazinaki, and nuts.
   • Nuts can be substituted for seedless olives as they are also a good source of healthy fats.
2. 2 Avoid sticky food. Such food can get stuck in the spaces between the dentures and the gums. Sticky food can also dislodge dentures and cause discomfort. Avoid chewing gum, toffee, chocolate, caramel, and peanut butter.
   • Chickpea butter is a good alternative to peanut butter. It spreads well and is a source of protein without having a sticky texture.
3. 3 Do not eat food containing small grains. Fruit seeds can easily get stuck between dentures and gums. Avoid strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and pitted grapes. You should also refuse to use baked goods sprinkled with grains on top. The forbidden list should include baked goods sprinkled with poppy seeds and sesame seeds.
   • Substitute seedless fruits with blueberries and seedless grapes. If you find it difficult to refuse baking with grains, lean towards the choice of bread, bagels, bagels, and so on, with seeds baked inside that have been previously ground.

Tips

• If you have a prosthesis with a palatal plate, then during the first time you use it, you may notice an altered perception of the taste of food. However, this sensation is only temporary, since most of the taste buds are located on the tongue. If, even after a few weeks, your sense of taste has not recovered, consult your dentist.
• As an alternative to denture glue, you can use special denture creams and powders. Ask your dentist what they can recommend for you.

Warnings

• If you try to eat solid food before you get used to dentures, you may accidentally swallow an unchewed bite of food and choke on it.
• Avoid solid foods on the first day of wearing your dentures. If you start chewing such food incorrectly, you can easily damage the denture.