How to Eat Healthy With Dentures

Posted on: 29 January 2016

If you are new to having dentures, you might find it hard to decide what to eat. While it can be an adjustment, you will soon have your taste back and be able to eat almost anything you want. Here are some tips for eating healthy even with dentures

Start With Liquids

After you first get your dentures, it is a good idea to begin with liquids. You need some time to adjust to having the dentures, so it helps to choose healthy foods that can be made into liquids. For example, you can blend up as many fruits and vegetables as you want into a juice, or add low-fat yogurt or Greek yogurt and milk to make a healthy smoothie. Beef, chicken, and vegetable broth is an excellent choice for liquids that fill you up. It can be tempting to drink unhealthy drinks like sugary juice and soft drinks in the beginning since it is easier to have a liquid diet with dentures. However, try to stick to fresh-squeezed juice without added sugar, water, and fruit and vegetable smoothies. 

Choose Healthy Purees and Soft Foods

There are also many foods that are soft or can be turned into a puree that are also good for you. This is a great way to get your share of protein, fiber, and other important nutrients. Try having yogurt, pudding, and applesauce for your snacks. For breakfast, eggs can be a good soft and nutritious food. Add some cheese to the top for extra flavour and to increase your protein. This breakfast will also keep you full, so if you are trying to reduce your calories, it will give you energy and keep you from filling up on unhealthy food items.

Avoid Tough Meats

When you feel comfortable eating more foods that aren't soft or liquids, start with foods that aren't overly hard or chewy. For example, you can try replacing steak and other tough cuts of meats with fish and poultry. These items will be a little softer and easier to chew, while also being very good for you. Add some legumes and beans to your dish for more nutrition, along with a salad. Leave out the croutons and hard vegetables for now. When you want vegetables, go for the steamed version.

If you aren't sure what you can and can't have with your dentures, begin adding other foods slowly until you find what you feel most comfortable with. Your dentist can also provide a list of foods you should avoid eating.

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