Learning to Eat with Dentures Can Be Tricky; Here’s How to Chew with Confidence

Dentures are remarkable prosthetic dental appliances that have allowed countless people to achieve complete smiles after severe tooth loss. While a set of these devices can restore much of a patient’s chewing ability, you may need some practice to get used to eating with them comfortably. Here’s a quick guide to the adjustment period after receiving dentures and a few tips for acclimating more easily.

Great Foods for When You First Receive Your Dentures

While your dentures should fit comfortably and naturally after you get used to them, you may experience some temporary soreness when you begin using them. This can make chewing difficult for a while, so it’s a great idea to stick to soft foods such as:

• Applesauce
• Cold cuts
• Cottage cheese
• Chopped meatloaf
• Egg salad
• Mashed potatoes
• Scrambled Eggs
• Oatmeal
• Pancakes
• Rice
• Soft fruit like bananas, strawberries, and grapes
• Steamed veggies
• Tuna salad
• Yogurt

You can resume eating normal foods when you feel comfortable doing so. However, traditional dentures will only restore about 20% of your original chewing power. If you are interested in enjoying restorations with the most secure hold available, you may wish to consider dental implants.

Do Dentures Affect the Sense of Taste?

When you begin eating with dentures, you may find they diminish your sense of taste. This can be due to the appliance covering the taste receptors on the roof of the mouth or because of any adhesive products used. While your sense of taste will probably go back to normal as you get used to wearing your appliance, you may need to adjust how much adhesive you are using.

How Can I Get Used to Wearing Dentures?

You may be able to acclimate to wearing dentures more comfortably by:

• Chewing slowly and carefully.
• Taking care to chew on both sides of your mouth to strengthen all its muscles.
• Avoid foods that are acidic, sticky, or hard.
• Stay hydrated to promote saliva flow.
• Take special care when eating hot foods since dentures will not sense changes in temperature.

You should find that your dentures become increasingly comfortable after wearing them for several days. However, contact your dentist if your mouth seems dry, your dentures aren’t fitting properly, or your gum sores are getting worse instead of better.

About the Practice

Dr. Bradford Plasha earned his dental degree at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine where he also completed an externship in prosthodontics. He is proud to be a Fellow of the International Dental Implant Association and a member of the American Dental Association. His office in Collegeville provides general, restorative, cosmetic, and emergency dentistry as well as denture services. To learn more about adjusting to wearing dentures, contact his office online or dial (484) 854-6900.