Healthy Eating With Dentures
Denture wearers face challenges that can affect their eating habits. Unfortunately, a common change is a switch to an unhealthy diet. Many good foods may seem off limits, because of reduced chewing efficiency.
Another problem for those who wear upper dentures is a loss of taste. An upper denture covers your palate, an area almost as important as your tongue for sensing flavours. You may lean towards strong, artificial flavourings that your body cannot process and harm your health.
Dentures Must Fit Well
If your dentures do not fit well you may struggle to eat many foods. This is unnecessary and limits your diet. You may resort to processed instead of fresh foods, because they’re easier to eat.
Regrettably, most processed foods are also high in fat, salt, sugar, and unhealthy preservatives. Eating too much sugar or salt can lead to other health implications including weight gain, high blood pressure, or disease.
Make sure you visit your denturist to find out if a reline will help to keep your dentures fitting snug so that you can chew efficiently and eat the foods you want.
Eat a Variety of Foods
You need to diet rich in protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. Protein is necessary to build muscle, bone, cartilage, skin, and blood. Your body also uses it to produce enzymes, hormones, and other chemicals in the body. The recommended daily intake is about 7 grams of protein for every 20 pounds of body weight.
Fortunately, you can find protein in many foods you can easily eat with dentures. Beans, chickpeas, and lentils are low in cholesterol, high in fiber, and easy to chew. Non-nut protein spreads such as hummus are also a healthy choice. Fish and eggs are also high in protein and easy to eat.
Carbohydrates convert to glucose to fuel the body. Seniors often need fewer carbohydrates as they are generally less active. Nonetheless, it is important you choose the correct carbohydrates, no matter your age. White bread, white rice, and baked goods convert to glucose very quickly and strain the pancreas. Whole grains digest slowly and deliver glucose slowly.
Fat is not your enemy. Healthy fat helps to reduce the bad cholesterol that can clog your arteries, and it can balance blood sugars and reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes. Fats high in omega-3 fatty acids promote brain health and cellular health too. Healthy fats include avocadoes, olive and flaxseed oil, dark chocolate, and fatty fish like salmon, tuna, and herring.
Cook Wisely
Even if you cannot eat raw fruits and vegetables, you can still eat a healthy diet if you prepare your food wisely. Some vegetables such as carrots, spinach, mushrooms, asparagus, cabbage, peppers and other vegetables deliver more antioxidants when steamed than when eaten raw. You can also mash vegetables after they’re cooked to make them easier to eat.
Some ripe fresh fruit is easy to eat, but if you love the taste of a crunchy apple, add it to a smoothie instead. You can also poach fruit to soften it.
You can certainly eat meat if you prepare in properly too. Ground, slow-cooked, or pressure cooked meats have great flavour, they’re easy to chew, and they’re high in protein.
Maintaining your Dentures
You should visit your denturist annually for an examination. Annual checkups are the best way to keep your mouth healthy and to detect any potential problems. It’s also the best way to ensure your dentures last as long as possible and look their best.
We recommend a reline to your dentures every 2 to 3 years. You can expect to replace your dentures every 5 to 7 years, depending on wear and the changes to your bite.
*****
If you’re struggling with your dentures, please contact us. Dentures should be comfortable and worry-free. We’re experts in custom-made standard and precision dentures, immediate dentures, partial dentures and dentures on implants. We offer innovative solutions and quality workmanship.
Live your best life and let us perfect your smile.
Brookswood Denture Clinic – Denture & Implant Solutions