Getting Proper Nutrition with Missing Teeth

Your teeth play an important role in allowing your body to get adequate nutrition.  That’s because they allow you to chew a variety of foods which possess their own diverse health benefits. But when you’re missing teeth, it can be difficult to maintain a proper diet. Without the right teeth to crunch on protein-packed nuts or vitamin-rich vegetables, it can be hard to maintain total body wellness. That’s one of the many reasons why dentists recommend replacing lost teeth. By undergoing restorations such as dental implants or dentures, you can expand your diet to include more of the healthy foods your body needs.

But just because you have dentures doesn’t mean you’re home free. In fact, even denture wearers are at risk for poor nutrition, because despite their durability dentures do not possess the same bite force as dental implants or your natural teeth.

Thankfully, having dentures doesn’t mean you have to forgo nutritious fare. Here are a few tips for maintaining a healthy diet with dentures, and some options if you’re ready to find a longer lasting solution!

Tips for Dining with Dentures

When you eat with dentures, you should still be able to chew many of the foods you enjoyed with your natural teeth; however, it may be difficult to bite into crunchy fruits like apples or nosh on a handful of almonds. If you find yourself struggling to break down harder foods, try cutting them into smaller pieces or eating them in a new way. Try a nut butter spread instead of whole roasted nuts, or steamed carrots instead of raw. For meats, try new preparation methods such as roasting or stewing, to make meats more tender.

Take a Vitamin

Another great way to help your body get the nutrition it needs is to take multivitamins. Speak to your doctor about what combination of vitamins and minerals would best benefit your body, but remember, no multivitamin can do it all, and you still need to derive most of your nutrients from food.

Improve Your Nutrition with Dental Implants

If you’re looking for a more permanent solution to replacing lost teeth, it’s time to consider dental implants. Dental implants are longer lasting than dentures and attach directly to your jawbone for a more secure fit. Because of this, you can enjoy a greater bite force, making it easier to chew a variety of nutritious foods that you may have had to give up with dentures.

To learn more about your options for dental implants, or to discuss ways to improve your nutrition with dentures, ask your dentist for more information. Remember, dining with dentures is inherently different from your natural teeth, but with a little creativity you can still enjoy the healthy foods you’ve always loved!

About Our Dr. Eskridge

Dr. Ryan Eskridge, DDS leads the team at Wedgewood Complete Dentistry in Powell. At Wedgewood Complete Dentistry, Dr. Eskridge and his staff employ the latest in dental technology like digital imaging, intraoral cameras, and soft tissue lasers.

In addition to providing patients with the benefits of modern equipment, Dr. Eskridge believes in continuing to learn and expand his skill set. He has attended classes at The Dawson Academy and is an active member in the Northwest Oral Surgery Study Club, the American Dental Association, the Ohio Dental Association, Spectrum Study Club, and the Columbus Dental Society.

To schedule an appointment, please visit our website or call us at 614-505-4392.