What You Should (and Shouldn't) Eat with New Dentures

Having new dentures is exciting and challenging, all at once. Here at Tenth Street Family Dental, our dedicated team of general and cosmetic dentistry specialists is here to ensure you adapt to your new smile and feel comfortable and confident. 

We offer all types of dentures in our Indianapolis, Indiana, office, including complete, partial, and implant-supported dentures. We’re also your go-to source for denture repairs and relines. 

Our goal is to help you get acclimated quickly, and knowing the go-to and no-go foods for dentures wearers is a great place to start. Read on to learn how to navigate your dentures diet with ease.

Start with soft foods

We recommend starting soft, eating only soft foods at first. Some of the denture-friendly foods to enjoy as you adjust are: 

• Yogurt
• Scrambled eggs
• Cottage cheese
• Applesauce
• Pudding
• Bananas
• Shaved deli meat 
• Mashed potatoes
• Diced soft foods, such as meatloaf
• Rice

Denture wearers generally need to stick to soft foods for at least several days. We provide personalized advice based on your type of dentures. In general, many of our patients start to eat other foods after a week or so.

Try these transitional foods

As you start the transition from soft to harder foods, you can introduce cooked veggies and soft meats, cut into small pieces that are easy to chew. You can have most foods at this point, but eat slowly and deliberately — and make sure you avoid the most challenging foods. 

Stay away from these foods with dentures

There are a few types of food that we recommend avoiding when you have new dentures. 

Hard and crunchy foods

A general rule for dentures is to avoid foods that require a lot of force to chew or bite into. For example, very hard and crunchy foods like carrot sticks and raw apples are hard to bite into and require a lot of chewing effort. This can cause discomfort as your gums are still adapting to your new dentures.

Sticky and chewy foods 

Other foods to avoid include anything sticky or chewy (think caramel or taffy). These foods can get stuck in your dentures, causing pulling that might dislodge them and cause a lot of discomfort. 

Foods and drinks that stain

Certain foods and drinks can stain both natural teeth and dentures. Some of the most common offenders in this category include coffee, tea, and red wine. 

Vibrant-colored fruits can stain as well. Common culprits are blackberries, blueberries, and pomegranates. 

We understand if you want to eat these foods occasionally once you’ve adapted to your new dentures fully. Just be cautious while eating, and if you experience any discomfort or other issues, give us a call right away. 

Personalized advice for denture wearers

If you have any questions or need personalized advice on your denture care, don’t hesitate to reach out. Call us at 317-358-8885 or connect with us to book your appointment now. At Tenth Street Family Dental, we’re here to support you every step of the way!