5 Foods You Shouldn’t Eat with Dentures

Nobody likes being told what they can’t do, but sometimes avoiding certain behaviors is for your own good. You wouldn’t touch a hot stove, or get out of your car without putting it in park, just like there are certain foods you shouldn’t eat with your new dentures.  In fact, these five red-flag foods can cause denture damage and should be avoided to protect your newly restored smile.

Popcorn

Popcorn is one of those foods that while you can most likely enjoy it eventually, you should avoid eating until you get used to your new dentures. That’s because popcorn kernels can easily become stuck between the prosthetic teeth, and can even get caught underneath the denture itself, causing irritation to your gums.

Nuts

Nuts taste great and have myriad health benefits, but they’re not usually a good idea to eat whole with dentures. Thankfully, you can still enjoy them in other forms, such as nut butter. If you do decide to attempt to crunch a whole nut, try chewing  with both sides of your mouth to evenly distribute the pressure. This will reduce the risk of your denture coming loose while eating or breaking as you crunch.

Sticky Candy

Sticky candy like taffy, caramels, brittles, toffee, and gummies may satisfy your sweet tooth, but they can also damage your prosthetics if you’re not careful. In fact, not only can they crack or chip your teeth, but these treats are also more difficult to clean off your dentures than softer sweets like chocolate.

Staining Beverages

Unlike your real teeth, your dentures cannot be whitened with professional whitening, white strips, or whitening toothpaste. Thus, if you discolor or stain them, you will either need to have them professionally repaired or completely replaced. To prevent this, be sure to avoid staining beverages like coffee, cola, and red wine. If you do indulge, be sure to clean your prosthetics as soon as possible after drinking, and if you can’t get to a toothbrush and floss immediately, drink lots of water to rinse any residue away.

Steak

Steak is one of the tougher types of meat you’ll encounter. Unfortunately, it’s often so tough it can cause damage to your dentures and can even make them slip out of place while you chew. Worse yet, some cuts of steak are so difficult to chew you may not even be able to do it completely, causing a choking hazard and increasing your risk of indigestion. Thus, if you do decide to have a steak, be sure to try a more tender variety such as a filet, cut it into smaller bites, and be sure to chew very carefully.

Remember, your new dentures can expand your diet to include a variety of foods that you may not have been able to enjoy with missing teeth. But in order to keep them in great shape, there are still a few things you should avoid. If you have any questions or concerns about your diet, speak to your dentist or doctor about healthy options that are easy to enjoy with your new prosthetics!

About Our Practice

At Souris Valley Dental Group, our team of skilled dentists is proud to meet all of your oral health care needs under one convenient roof. Whether you’ve got all your natural teeth, would like to learn more about Invisalign, or you’d like to restore your smile with the help of dentures, we’ve been proudly caring for Minot families since 1968.

To schedule an appointment to explore your options for replacing your missing teeth dentures, please visit our website or call us today at 701-852-5595.