How to Eat With a Partial Denture

Care for partial dentures by watching what you eat.

Partial dentures are often removable and/or temporary tooth replacements that boost the beauty of your smile and preserve gum tissue. Eating with a partial denture makes the ingestion of food more agreeable. That being said, several important tips must be considered and carried out to ensure no damage is done while eating. Improper eating or care of the device can result in breakage of the partial denture and impairment of dental health.

Instructions

1. Select soft foods -- tender meats and soft breads, for instance -- to eat while wearing a partial denture. Cut all foods into small pieces to reduce their density and toughness.

2. Chew food one both sides of the mouth. Move each bite of food from the left to the right side of the mouth with even distribution to distribute pressure and the workload on the teeth -- especially the denture. Avoid directly chewing food with the denture, if at all possible, for increased safety.

3. Limit -- and eliminate, if possible -- foods with tacky residues or inflexible textures. Avoid caramels or hard candies, for instance, to reduce the possibility of the denture becoming dislodged or breaking. Refrain from gum chewing under any circumstance and -- if your denture is a central or lateral incisor -- do not bite down directly on apples or other hard foods.

References

• Quality Dentistry: Removable Partial Dentures
• Cosmetic Dentistry and Medical Information; Knowing the Type of Tooth; Velda M.Whiteley; March 2011