What Can I Eat with Implant Dentures?
The most common question a denturist is asked after a patient receives implant-supported dentures revolves around diet.
“What can I eat?”
It’s an excellent question! What we recommend – surprising to many – is quite open in terms of eating. The easiest way to answer this question is this. In the long-term, you don’t have to stop eating anything. Implant dentures are anchored directly on your jawbone. They work just like natural teeth. As long as they’re being cleaned appropriately, you can enjoy almost anything when it comes to food.
I Just Got Dentures. Do I Have to Eat Soft Foods Only?
Though you don’t have to stick with soft foods, some may want to start with a soft food diet. Appropriate foods include scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, ground meats, pasta, soft fruits, smoothies, and more. Here’s why a soft food diet makes sense on dentures.
When you first receive dentures, they’re new. You may be slightly sore. Your jaw may feel odd, your tongue may need to adjust its positioning, etc. All in all, it can feel like an unfamiliar experience. While you’re getting acclimated to dentures, focusing on soft foods allows you to learn how to chew with them in. With implant dentures from Apple Dentures & Implant Solutions, a soft food diet’s not mandatory by any means though some patients have found it extremely helpful.
Can I Eat Hard Foods with Implant Dentures?
Once you’re familiar with the sensation of implant dentures in your mouth, you can eat hard, difficult foods that normally might prove challenging with another type of denture. Even corn-on-the-cob can be enjoyed with implant dentures.
The bottom line is you do not need to give these foods up. If you want to play it safe, you can prepare things a little differently i.e. steaming or roasting vegetables, cutting up fruit like apples into smaller pieces, and making things softer to chew.
There are two things to keep in mind when eating. The first is to avoid damage. If it feels unmanageable, don’t try it. There are plenty of foods you can eat. Tough, hard foods that you believe could damage your dentures shouldn’t be risked on.
The second piece of advice to remember is to clean and maintain your implant dentures. Toothbrush in hand, brush your teeth down just like you would natural teeth and ensure any morsels, bits, or strands of food caught in your mouth are removed.
What Foods Should I Avoid with Implant Dentures?
The list of foods to avoid with regular dentures is noteworthy though they don’t necessarily apply when it comes to implants.
- Extremely hard foods i.e. nuts, hard candies, and crispy granola bars. To chew these, additional force is required. This above-average force can unfortunately cause cracks, breaks, and permanent damage to dentures.
- Sticky foods i.e. taffy, soft caramels, and gummy candies should also be carefully excluded. These can become entangled amongst your dentures, lodged into embarrassing areas. The discomfort and sores that come with sticky foods can easily be avoided simply by keeping them away from your diet.
When you wear implant dentures, you can actually enjoy these foods without hesitation. Everything from chewy and tough foods to crunchy foods shouldn’t pose a significant risk to implant dentures. They shouldn’t shift your dentures out of place nor result in situations that necessitate a visit to your local denturist at Apple Dentures & Implant Solutions.
Some More Benefits of Implant Dentures
Beyond being able to enjoy the foods you want, there are several other benefits to implant dentures. Receive the best stability in denture technology. Speak, eat, sing, and kiss without worries. Prevent bone atrophy. When a tooth’s roots are missing, this removes the stimulation on the jawbone. The bone then gradually shrinks over time. Dental implants prevent bone atrophy, functioning just like natural teeth would.
Implant dentures also don’t require ongoing adjustments like traditional dentures would due to this bone loss being avoided. In the long-term, you save time, discomfort, and frustration choosing implant dentures.
The team at Apple Dentures & Implant Solutions is focused on improving quality of life for our patients. If you’re suffering from a lack of confidence, functional issues, or discomfort, implant dentures might be exactly what you need to experience greater enjoyment from your life. Don’t hesitate to contact us to schedule a consultation to help determine if you’re a candidate for implant dentures.
