16 Oct Will I be Able to Eat with my dentures?
Dentures are a successful method of smile reconstruction that, despite advancements in dental technologies and the introduction of new reconstructive methods, remains hugely popular today.
New denture wearers will be able to eat many of the foods they enjoyed with their natural teeth, although there may be some foods that could prove trickier to eat.
New denture wearers may commonly experience some temporary loss of taste sensation during the early weeks of wearing their dentures; foods may taste different and hot drinks may feel cooler (but still remain hot!) for example, and some retraining of the mouth may be required in order to be able to fully restore these sensations. Once you become accustomed to wearing dentures, however, your sense of taste will soon improve. [pullquote]…wearing dentures needn’t stop you from eating many of the foods you enjoy, and with a little forward practice and patience, eating with dentures will soon feel as natural as it did before.[/pullquote]
Many denture wearers become cautious when faced with the prospect of tackling hard or tough foods that require biting or chewing, such as potatoes, steaks or corn on the cob; similarly, soft and sticky foods, such as desserts can also pose problems to new wearers. Practice makes perfect however, and it often pays to begin with soft foods, such as eggs or fish, chopped meats or soft vegetables in order to gain confidence with biting and chewing. As time progresses, soft foods can begin to be substituted for harder foodstuffs, such as smaller portions of steak or boiled potatoes, and gradually increasing in size.
Harder foods which require exerting more biting pressure may cause some concern, as there is a fear of causing damage to the dentures as a result. Using a good denture adhesive can help by making the dentures feel more secure in the mouth, and so less prone to slipping in the mouth. A good adhesive can also act as a sealant to prevent food particles getting wedged under the denture plate; it is also beneficial to swap chewing duties equally by chewing on both sides of the mouth in order to even out pressure on the dentures.
However, with practice, wearing dentures needn’t stop you from eating many of the foods you enjoy, and with a little forward practice and patience, eating with dentures will soon feel as natural as it did before.
For additional information and to schedule your professional consultation, contact the San Antonio dental office of Drs. Huriega and Bonner at 210-616-0858.