Taking on dentures after a lifetime of eating with your natural teeth can mean an adjustment.  It is normal to have some anxiety over your dentures slipping.  This takes practice yet it is manageable.  Here are tips to manage the denture transition and be back on track to culinary delights in no time.

1. Begin slowly.  Wearing dentures means learning to alter your bite. You will also need to learn how to adjust your tongue to help hold down dentures in place. 
2. Soft foods.  A soft food is an easily managed food.  Baked potatoes, scrambled eggs, and pasta are good starting point.  Seasoning helps make food more flavorful and savory.  After a few days, these can be followed with baked beans, soups with soft meat and vegetables, casseroles, pancakes, and skinless fish.
3. Small bites.  Because biting and chewing feel different than before, you will need to ease back with small quantities and small pieces.
4. A different bite. Begin and learn the process of biting on both sides of your mouth, using the back teeth only.  By distributing the pressure on both sides of your mouth, this avoids the pressure to your front teeth.  This isn’t intuitive but can be accomplished with practice.
5. Plan Ahead for Special Occasions.  The holidays are a time of anxiety for new denture wearers.  Don’t let this upset your get togethers!  It is still possible to eat a variety of foods  from a pot luck gathering, but avoid the ever present vegetable tray or nuts.  Scan the buffet bar for chili, soups and broths, and soft fish.
6. Foods to Avoid.  Popcorn, nuts, carrot sticks, any bread or muffin that is seeded, and peanut butter.  The good news is all can be substituted with equally satisfying choices.  Substitute popcorn with air puffed veggie crisps, nuts with pitted olives,, steak with ground meat or chicken, and fish.

Wearing dentures  means adjusting one’s expectations.  Patience, practice, and planning ahead will ease the process and build the confidence to approach any food line with confidence.

Dentures Par Excellence offers dentures and denture care. For more information or to contact our office, please visit our website or call 309-693-7200.

https://www.denturesparexcellence.com

https://www.dentureliving.com/en-us/fixodent-articles/dentures/life-with-dentures-can-be-delicious

http://www.colgate.com/en/us/oc/oral-health/cosmetic-dentistry/dentures/article/eating-with-dentures-1015

https://www.dentureliving.com/en-us/fixodent-articles/denture-faq/eating-with-denture