Nutrition Tips for Patients Who Wear Dentures

Nutrition is an important part of dental health. This is National Nutrition Month, so what better time to point out how you diet can affect your teeth. The obvious parallel is with sugar and cavities. Sugar may not directly cause cavities, but sucrose certainly contributes. Additionally, carbohydrates are easily converted into sugar, so the bacteria that create acid and tooth decay don’t discriminate between a donut and a croissant when it comes to wreaking havoc on your teeth. If you don’t take care of your pearly whites, you could end up losing them at some point in your life. For many people, this means dentures. Pella dentist, Dr. Jeffrey Allen, will talk more about dentures, including some nutrition tips for those of you out there that are traditional denture wearers.

Traditional Dentures

Dentures are full sets of prosthetic teeth fashioned out of acrylic composite material. Sometimes known as “false teeth,” dentures sit on the top of your gums. These removable prosthetic teeth make a reliable and affordable tooth replacement solution for some people. Dentures can have drawbacks, including relying on messy, sticky adhesives and cleaners. Even with paste or suction, dentures can slip or shift when you eat certain foods such as apples or corn-on-the-cob. Many people complain of a lack of chewing satisfaction when they first start adjusting to wearing traditional dentures.

Tips on Eating with Dentures

As with anything new, you may need some time to adjust to your new prosthetic teeth. Don’t panic if you feel like you’re not tasting your food like you used to. Your taste buds aren’t covered by your dentures, so in time your brain will readjust to the way your new teeth feel, and you’ll likely be able to enjoy food as you once did. You will need to be cautious about temperatures at first. Sensing hot and cold might become more difficult, so be careful not to burn yourself. Generally, your Pella dentist will suggest that you start with soft foods such as eggs, cooked vegetables, cottage cheese, yogurt, or pudding. Eventually, you can ease back in to chewier foods, and before long, you may find that you’ve forgotten what life felt like without your dentures.

Dentures from Pella Dentist

If you are interested in a consultation for dentures, contact your Pella dentist. Dr. Jeffrey Allen provides comfortable dental care to patients of all ages. Call our 50219 dentist office at (641) 628-1121 today to schedule an appointment, cosmetic consultation, or second-opinion visit. We are located on the west side of the historic town square in Pella, IA. Please see the map for directions.