Dentures do more than restore your smile—they play a major role in how you eat and absorb nutrients. If you’ve recently started wearing dentures, you may have noticed certain foods feel different or have become more difficult to chew. But can these prosthetics actually affect your nutrition? Keep reading to learn how they affect your diet and what you can do to support better nutrition.

Dentures May Limit Some Food Choices

One of the biggest challenges for new denture wearers is adjusting to different textures. Tough, sticky, or hard foods—like steak, nuts, and raw vegetables—can be tricky to chew with prosthetics. As a result, some people may avoid these nutrient-rich foods, which can lead to deficiencies in fiber, protein, and essential vitamins.

Without a balanced diet, issues like low energy levels, weakened immunity, and poor digestion can arise. That’s why it’s important to find ways to work around denture-related eating challenges.

Eating Smart with Dentures

There’s no getting around the limitations of denture appliances, but there are ways you can prepare your food to make it much easier to consume. In fact, with a few simple adjustments to your meal prep, you’ll easily be able to continue to keep your body and mind in top shape. Here are some tips:

• Choose Softer Proteins: Instead of steak, opt for ground beef, fish, or eggs.
• Steam or Cook Veggies: Softening vegetables makes them easier to chew while retaining their nutrients.
• Try Whole Grain Alternatives: Cooked oatmeal, brown rice, and whole grain pasta provide fiber without being too tough.
• Cut Food into Smaller Pieces: This reduces the effort needed to chew and prevents denture slippage.

Over time, your mouth will adjust, and you may be able to reintroduce more foods into your diet.

Improving Your Eating Experience

There are other ways you can improve your experience while eating with dentures other than modifying your food. The most important aspect of eating with dentures is making sure your smile stays stable. In this regard, a well-fitting prosthetic makes all the difference in comfort and function.

So, make sure your dentures fit properly. In a pinch, you can use denture adhesives when you go out to eat or for special occasions to help keep your prosthetics in place. Otherwise, you can explore options like getting dental implants to hold your appliances, preventing slippage, and restoring your bite power.

While dentures can present some dietary challenges, they don’t have to limit your nutrition. With a few adjustments and the right denture fit, you can continue to enjoy a balanced, healthy diet with little effort!

About the Practice

At Zahner Dental, Dr. Shawn Zahner and Dr. Jonathan Zahner use their expert skills to help patients achieve healthy and beautiful smiles. Whether you’re in need of new dentures or a simple checkup, our team uses modern dental technology and techniques to ensure that you leave with a brighter grin than when you came in. Call (860) 870-9031 to schedule an appointment or visit our website to explore other services.