Most of us look forward to all the delicious food that seems to be everywhere during the holiday season: cookies, pies, hard candy, turkey, ham, green bean casserole, yams, etc. The list is almost endless. But if you’re a denture wearer, you need to exercise some caution when it comes to choosing which foods you enjoy during the holidays. This is especially true for new denture wearers. No matter how tempting they may be, some foods can cause pain and/or discomfort if you wear dentures. Here are some tips for navigating through holiday foods and beverages.
- Think SOFT! If you have a brand new set of dentures, your dentist or orthodontist has probably already cautioned you to only eat soft foods. This includes hot cereals, puddings, yogurt, etc. But once you’ve gone through the first few days with your new dentures, you’ll be able to transition to solid foods.
- Cut up your food. This is particularly true for foods that require a little more chewing – like that holiday turkey or ham, for example. But cutting up your food into small pieces is great advice for new denture wearers, no matter what the food may be. If you’re not used to chewing with your new dental appliance, cutting up your food will make it easier to digest when you’re not able to chew as thoroughly as you normally would.
- Watch out for the temperature of food and drinks. The holidays are a nice time to enjoy a tasty cup of hot chocolate or mulled wine, for example. But if you wear dentures, you’ll need to stay away from foods and drinks that are extremely hot or cold. You’ll notice that you’re more sensitive to the temperature of food and beverages after you begin to wear dentures.
- Avoid sticky or chewy foods. There are plenty of delicious foods at the holidays that can really wreak havoc on dentures. Food that is especially chewy or sticky is one category to avoid. Stay away from caramel candy and peanut butter, for example. These types of foods can cause your dentures to slip, and that can irritate your gums.
- Avoid hard foods, including some holiday favorites like hard candy, nuts, popcorn balls and caramel apples, for example. These types of foods may cause your dentures to slip or – even worse – can actually damage your appliance.
- Make wise choices. Just because you have dentures doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy delicious holiday food! Just be careful about the choices you make. Look for meats that are tender and/or ground. Replace peanut butter with hummus, for example. Make sure your vegetables are cooked. And choose fruits that are soft and ripe. Even chocolate is okay, as long as it doesn’t contain caramel or nuts.
Fortunately, there are plenty of holiday foods and drinks that even new denture wearers can feel confident indulging in. Just follow these guidelines for a safe, pain-free holiday season.
