Until they get them, most people don’t realize just how different dentures are from natural teeth. You may realize that they don’t look like natural teeth, but you probably don’t know just how different they are in function from your natural teeth. Once you get them, you know. Especially as you watch your eating habits change–and not for the better. The next time you enjoy a meal with your dentures, pay attention to the way you eat your food. You might come to some realizations. Here are some aspects of your eating habits that have likely changed since you got dentures.

Different Chewing Motions

Chewing is a complex process. Your teeth don’t just go up and down, they also move sideways, too, so your teeth can crush, cut, and shear food all in one single motion. This is very effective and it allows you to efficiently break down your food.

But with traditional dentures, you have to use only up and down motions. That’s because your dentures are not secure enough, and those sideways motions will dislodge your dentures. This can work, but it’s not nearly as efficient, so eating takes much longer. For best results, use these tips to eat better with dentures. First, chew slowly and on both sides of your mouth. Then, keeping an equal distribution can make it a little bit easier.

Cutting Food up More

To try to speed up the process of chewing food, you will also have to cut up your food smaller. Since the chewing motions are less efficient, you have to cut up food smaller in order to make it break down in a reasonable amount of time. You might find that large bites of food feel completely unmanageable.

Dentures may even force you to cut up foods you wouldn’t otherwise cut. That’s because biting into most foods isn’t typically a simple process of cutting through the food. Usually, you bite down, partially cutting, but also grabbing and tearing. This type of motion would pull out traditional dentures, rather than tearing the food! So, instead, you will end up cutting foods like pizza, corn on the cob, ribs, even sandwiches and candy bars. So before you ask, “can I eat pizza with dentures?” the answer is yes, you just have to eat in small bites and cut up your pizza. Takeout won’t feel the same ever again.

Modifying the Texture of Foods

Some food textures may be hard to eat. Crusty bread, for example, can be too hard for you. But you can continue to enjoy the soft interior of the bread (assuming it doesn’t stick too much to your plastic dentures, which can happen). Crunchy fruits and vegetables may be too hard for you. Steak also may be too difficult to chew. Many candies and some other foods may be too sticky–they can pull your dentures out of place.

To change the texture of foods, you may have to cook everything differently. Boil your vegetables and your meat. Opt for pot roast instead of steak. Wearing dentures can have a huge impact on your nutritious intake and your quality of life. Eating out will stop feeling fun because you’re unable to eat anything without a struggle.

If your dentures are particularly poor at chewing, you may have to give up on it altogether, and stick to pureed foods.

Eating Less

With all the changes in your eating habits and the challenge of trying to overcome different textures or other obstacles to eating with dentures, eating is a lot harder. With diminished taste and other reasons why eating becomes less rewarding, it may no longer seem worth it. You may start out by cutting some of your favorite foods, but you end up cutting out food altogether.

You may end up with unhealthy weight loss and even malnutrition as a result.

Change Your Dentures, Not Your Eating

There are many changes to your eating habits that traditional dentures will force on you. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Dentures don’t have to be like dentures.

Instead, high-quality FOY® Dentures–especially when combined with dental implants–can help you chew almost as effectively as natural teeth. FOY® Dentures utilize a unique neuromuscular design that helps your dentures fit more securely than any others on the market. With this design, you can enjoy all your favorite foods, including steak and crunchy vegetables. Our dentures will help you live your life to the fullest without feeling stressed about eating. Eating should be enjoyable and you shouldn’t have to sacrifice food groups due to inadequate dentures.

Stop struggling through every meal because your dentures don’t make it easy. You don’t have to learn how to eat with dentures. You just need new dentures. FOY® Dentures can help you eat like you once used to, enhance your smile, and help you look younger, all in one treatment.

To learn more about the benefits of FOY® Dentures, please call (02) 9686 7375 for an appointment at My Hills Dentist in Baulkham Hills.