There are many benefits to replacing your missing teeth with dentures, not the least of which is restoring your ability to eat all kinds of foods. That said, though, it’s important to be aware that dentures have their limitations. Researchers have found that dentures can potentially impact a person’s ability to get good nutrition; here’s what denture-wearers need to know about this connection.
The Link Between Dentures and Nutrition
While full dentures are designed to look as natural as possible, they can only provide around a fifth or a quarter of the bite force of your original teeth. This can make it difficult to eat a variety of foods, especially those that are particularly hard or chewy.
Due to the decreased chewing power of dentures, it can be easy to get frustrated and stop eating certain foods altogether. Unfortunately, this can include many foods that are important for good nutrition. For example, some individuals end up suffering from vitamin deficiencies because they are no longer able to enjoy hard fruits and vegetables such as apples or carrots.
On top of that, the lack of bite force provided by dentures means that many people end up not chewing their food as thoroughly as they should. Consequently, they end up swallowing larger chunks of food that aren’t digested by the stomach as easily. This is a problem because the body will have a harder time absorbing the nutrients from foods that haven’t been digested properly.
What Can You Do to Improve Nutrition While Wearing Dentures?
The most obvious step you can take is to adjust your diet so that it contains plenty of nutritious foods that can easily be enjoyed with dentures. Good examples include scrambled eggs, cottage cheese, broiled fish, applesauce, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, bananas, pasta, and rice.
Another measure you can take is to cut your food into smaller pieces. That way, it will be easier to sufficiently chew and break down said pieces before you swallow them.
Finally, it may be worth considering having your dentures attached to dental implants. Due to being surgically inserted into the jaw and forming a lasting bond with the jawbone, dental implants can significantly improve the stability and chewing power of your dentures. As such, they will let you eat a wider variety of foods and make getting the nutrition you need much easier.
In short, if you wear dentures, you need to be mindful of the nutrition you’re getting. Take whatever steps you need to so that you can stay healthy while continuing to enjoy your beautiful replacement teeth!
About the Author
Dr. Darren Koch studied dentistry at The University at Buffalo, where he earned awards for excellence in restorative dentistry. At his current practice in Cary, he offers dentures as a solution for patients who have lost most or all of their teeth. He is also partnered with local oral surgeons who are experts in placing dental implants. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Koch, visit his website or call (919) 859-6633.
