Your new dentures were designed to restore your beautiful smile and assist you in once again eating a wide range of delicious, healthy foods. But while they do look and feel just like your natural teeth, there are still a few items you should avoid eating while wearing them.
Keep your prosthetics in great shape and follow these dietary guidelines for proper use.
Getting Used to Your New Dentures
If you’re a new denture wearer, congratulations on your restored smile! While you may be ready to start diving into all the wonderful food you’ve been missing, it’s important to take it slowly with your new prosthetics. This not only allows you time to heal, but it also helps you get used to wearing them. Here’s a list of foods that your dentist recommends you avoid eating as you are first getting acclimated to your dentures:
- Popcorn
- Steak
- Nuts and seeds
- Sticky candies like taffy, caramels, and gummies
- Excessive caffeine
While you should be able to eventually add the above items back into your diet once you have mastered denture wearing, it is important that you always avoid the following, no matter how long you’ve been wearing them:
- Ice cubes
- Hard candy
- Anything inedible, such as fingernails, packaging, or pen caps
It is also essential that you clean your dentures properly after each meal so they don’t become damaged or dirty. Be sure to completely remove them from your mouth and brush them gently with a mild hand soap or denture cleanser and soft-bristled toothbrush. Be sure to also floss between each tooth and rinse them well before returning them to your mouth. If you are done wearing them for the day, place them in a cup of water or denture soak so they don’t dry out.
Denture Safe Foods
The great news about your new dentures is that there are plenty of delicious foods that are completely safe to consume while wearing them, even within a few weeks of getting them. These include:
- Yogurt
- Hot cereals like oatmeal or cream of wheat
- Slow cooked / ground meat
- Hummus
- Ripe fruits
- Mashed or pureed vegetables
- Cooked vegetables
- Applesauce
- Broth
- Cakes
- Soft chocolates
- Ice cream / frozen yogurt / sorbet / gelato
- Fruit smoothies
- Pudding
Remember, your dentures should allow you to enjoy a wide range of healthy and delicious foods, but there are still a few items that you should avoid. If you are interested in learning more about how you can restore your smile and expand your diet even further, speak to your dentist about the benefits of implant dentures. These prosthetics are a more secure way to restore your smile than traditional dentures and can often be more cost-effective than individual dental implants.
About Dr. Brong
Dr. Nicholas Brong is a skilled dentist with over a decade of experience. He has received extensive training in laser tissue therapy, as well state-of-the-art dental implant training with Nobel Biocare. If you are ready to restore your beautiful smile with the help of dentures, implant dentures, or dental implants, please schedule a consultation at Zumbro Family Dental today by visiting our website or calling our office at 507-288-1066.
